The names of Mr Jyotiraditya Scindia, Mr Gurudas Kamat, Mr E. Ahamed, Mr Beni Prasad Verma, Dr Charan Das Mahant, Mr Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Dr Girija Vyas are doing the rounds for either promotion or induction during the proposed Cabinet reshuffle expected any time in the next week.
On the other hand, the RJD, led by Mr Lalu Prasad Yadav, and the RLD chief, Mr Ajit Singh, could join the government if the Congress-led UPA decides to expand the ruling coalition.
While the RJD has been backing the Manmohan Singh government, the RLD is moving closer to the Congress ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
Mr Scindia, Mr Kamat and Mr Ahamed are currently ministers of state while Mr Verma is MoS with independent charge.
If insiders are to be believed, Mr Scindia, Mr Kamat and Mr Ahamed will be given portfolios with independent charge. Mr Ahamed is the leader of the Muslim League whose support is crucial for the Congress-led government in Kerala.
Mr Scindia is seen as a future leader of the Congress in Madhya Pradesh. Mr Kamat was a find of the late Rajiv Gandhi. He has proved his electability several times by defeating the late BJP heavyweight Pramod Mahajan.
He had led the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee for a full term.
Dr Mahant is the only Congress MP in Chhattisgarh.