New Delhi:
New faces are likely to be inducted in the Manmohan Singh Cabinet today. The reshuffle of the Council of Ministers scheduled to take place in the evening is expected to be the last one with the Lok Sabha elections less than a year away.
Congress leaders from Karnataka are expected to be rewarded after last month's win in the state elections. Mallikarjun Kharge, who lost out in the Chief Minister's race, is likely to be the new Railways Minister. Oscar Fernandes, also from Karnataka, will be the new Surface Transport Minster, say sources.
Congress leaders from Rajasthan, which goes to elections in a few months, are also likely to be elevated to the Cabinet rank. While Girija Vyas may get the Housing and Poverty Alleviation portfolio, Sis Ram Ola, is likely to get the Labour Ministry.
K Sambasiva Rao from Andhra Pradesh is likely to get the Textile Ministry. This is a last minute change as Choudhury Virender Singh was believed to be the front-runner.
In fact, interestingly before the final portfolios are given out at this evening's swearing in, Sonia Gandhi spent an hour with the Prime Minister over lunch.
Also likely to be inducted as minsters of state are Meenakshi Natarajan, who is known to be close to Rahul Gandhi, EMS Nachiappan and Manik Rao Gavit.
The Congress yesterday announced its new team for Mission 2014 - perhaps to signal that the party is ready for the challenge. (
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Five months after Rahul Gandhi was appointed as party vice-president, Congress has carried out the organisation revamp to prepare for Lok Sabha elections. And it seemed to have a clear imprint of Mr Gandhi. (
Congress announces key organisational changes: Full list)
Ajay Maken and CP Joshi, the two ministers who resigned from the UPA government on Saturday, were drafted into the party. Mr Maken will be the new face of the Congress media wing; meanwhile, former Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni will now work closely with party president Sonia Gandhi as in-charge of the Congress President's office.