New Delhi:
The Prime Minister's team is going to undergo changes soon with a cabinet reshuffle likely to be announced this week.
As the changes are debated and finalised, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had a one-on-one meeting with President Pratibha Patil this evening for 45 minutes. Sources describe it as a routine monthly meeting, but its timing is significant.
Having been cornered by the Opposition on corruption charges, sources say the Prime Minister wanted to start off the New Year with a new team, and there was also talk of all the non-performers to be dropped from the cabinet. However, top party leaders are cautious ahead of the upcoming Budget session.
Sources also say that the expected major reshuffle may turn out to be a cosmetic change to fill up the vacant spots of the likes of Shashi Tharoor, A Raja and Prithviraj Chavan.
NDTV has also learnt that the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi have had several rounds of discussions on the changes within the cabinet.
Sources say the possible changes in the cabinet could be:- Recently given the charge of the Telecom Ministry, Kapil Sibal might be relieved of his duties as the Science and Technology minister
- The vacany in the Ministry of External Affairs, caused by the resignation of Shashi Tharoor, might be filled
- Pranab Mukherjee, P Chidambaram, SM Krishna and AK Antony are likely to hold on to their ministries
- Trinamool Congress wants another berth in the cabinet
- The DMK wants a replacement for the former Telecom Minister A Raja
- And the NCP wants Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel to be elevated to cabinet rank