Hope this is last reshuffle before elections, says PM

New Delhi: After his new Cabinet was formalised this evening, Prime Minister said he hopes that today's reshuffle "is the last before we go to the polls, though there is no finality in life." If his coalition lasts its term, general elections will be held in 2014. (Read: PM's new team announced: Entire Cabinet List) | (PM's new team)

After the swearing-in ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan this evening, Dr Manmohan Singh told reporters that once again, Rahul Gandhi had been invited to join the government but that like in the past, the Congress General Secretary said he preferred to work for the party. The PM described his new Cabinet as "a balance between state representation, efficiency of ministers and continuity." He also reached out to an important coalition partner - "We have kept two seats vacant for DMK, I hope their decision will be coming soon," Dr Singh said. (Read: Cabinet reshuffle not complete yet, stresses Karunanidhi)

The reshuffle has at least a few ministers reaching out for some Digene. Veerappa Moily who has been moved from Law Minister to Corporate Affairs Minister blamed his transfer  on "vested interests" though he did not get more specific. (Read: Was removed because of vested interests, says Moily)

Congress leader Gurudas Kamat has resigned, or been sacked, depending on who you speak to. The Minister of State was assigned to independent charge of Drinking Water and Sanitation, but chose to skip the pomp and ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan this evening, because he was allegedly upset about not being given Cabinet rank. (Read: Gurudas Kamat quits, Srikant Hena unhappy with Cabinet reshuffle)

Mr Moily's outburst about his transfer took centre-stage this evening but since 11 am, when the Prime Minister's Office disclosed the changes in his Cabinet on its website, the focus was largely on Jairam Ramesh. He was moved out of the Environment Ministry with a hefty promotion - he is now Rural Develompent Minister. Jayanthi Natarajan, former Congress spokesperson, will now handle the high-profile Environment Ministry as a Minister of State with Independent Charge. (Read: Who is Jayanthi Natarajan?)

Mr Ramesh, credited with revving up the Environment Ministry and criticised often by his colleagues for often obstructing development, has been elevated to Cabinet rank with the critical Rural Development Ministry, which was headed so far by Vilas Rao Deshmukh.

Mr Ramesh will now supervise some of the government's flagship schemes like NREGA or the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. He'll also handle the tricky issue of a new bill for Land Acquisition and the need for better compensation for farmers - a cause to which Rahul Gandhi devoted his recent walkathon through UP, which votes next year and will be a test of strength personally for Mr Gandhi and for his party. Sources say that Mr Ramesh has been asked to bring his signature energy and dynamism to the ministry. The move also allows the Prime Minister to reward a performing minister while removing him from a position where he was seen by some as a roadblock. (Read: Who is Jairam Ramesh?)

The Rahul Gandhi connection is also visible in another appointment. One of his closest aides, Congress secretary Jitendra Singh, has been inducted as a Minister of State for Home. Mr Singh is a first-time MP from Rajasthan and his bright, traditional turban added a splash of colour at Rashtrapati Bhawan this evening.

The Big 4 ministries - Finance, Defence, Home and External Affairs - remain unchanged.

Mr Moily exits the Law Ministry at a time when the government has been reprimanded in a glut of cases by the Supreme Court. Ranging from the telecom scam to the attempts to recover black money, the government has been accused of willful mismanagement and inertia. In the telecom scam, the Prime Minister's Office was asked to explain alleged inaction. The resignation of the Solicitor General over the weekend served, sources say, as the proverbial final straw. Mr Moily said he'd like to warn his successor, "Whatever sin is committed by the administrative ministries, they will try to attach that to Law Ministry.It is the fault on the part of the administrative ministry, it has nothing to do with us. We are only the face in the court." (Watch)

As anticipated, no replacements have been announced for the vacancies created by Dayanidhi Maran and A Raja, both from the DMK, who have resigned over corruption charges. In Chennai, DMK chief M Karunanidhi said "the reshuffle is not complete" - an indication that he reserves the right to exercise his party's quota after a meeting of its general council later this month in Coimbatore. At that session, the DMK will decide whether it wants to participate in the UPA government or support it from outside. For now, Mr Karunanidhi's focus, say sources, is on trying to help his daughter who is in jail for her alleged role in the telecom scam that centred around Mr Raja.

Rail and more for Trinamool

Dinesh Trivedi of the Trinamool Congress has been given the Railways Ministry - a Cabinet rank post vacated by his party chief Mamata Banerjee after she was elected West Bengal Chief Minister. (Read: Who is Dinesh Trivedi?) The weekend saw two massive train accidents in UP and Guwahati and national anger over what's perceived as a leadership crisis in the ministry, and a lack of focus on passenger safety. Mr Trivedi's party colleague Sudip Bandopadhyay replaces him as Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare. Trinamool watchers are surprised at close Mamata confidante Mukul Roy being ignored. Mr Roy, who was Minister of State for Shipping, with additional charge of Railways in the 50-odd days since Mamata quit, has gone back to holding only his Shipping portfolio. He came in for much criticism after the weekend rail accidents. (Read: Trinamool's Mukul Roy loses Railways)

Beni Prasad Verma, a heavyweight leader from UP, has been elevated to Cabinet rank from Minister with Independent Charge. His ministry remains the same - Steel. Andhra Pradesh leader V Kishore Chandra Deo has been made Cabinet Minister for Tribal Affairs and Panchayati Raj, an important assignment in a Congress government. His appointment comes at a time that the Congress needs to consolidate in Andhra Pradesh, confronting as it is a new crisis with many of its leaders resigning over the demand for a new Telangana state. (Read: Who is V Kishore Chandra Deo?)

Milind Deora, a young MP from Mumbai, has been made Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology. His father, Murli Deora, resigned last week as Minister of Corporate Affairs. Today, he has been replaced by Mr Moily. (Read: Who is Milind Deora?)

Rajiv Shukla, as well known in the world of cricket as he is in politics, is now Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs.

Mr Deshmukh, who has been replaced as Rural Development Minister by Mr Ramesh, will now handle Science and Technology.  

Five ministers sacked

Five ministers have been sacked, including MS Gill who was in charge of Sports and looked on a sticky wicket ever since the CWG controversies happened. The others are BK Handique, veteran Assam leader, Kantilal Bhuria, who loses the Tribal Affairs Ministry, Arun S Yadav from Madhya Pradesh who was the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries and Sai Prathap Annayyagari, who was Minister of State, Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, an Andhra man known to be close to Jagan Mohan Reddy.

In replacing them, the PM has kept regional expectations in mind. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, victorious in the recently held Assembly elections, had recently said he would like more ministers from Assam. Mr Handique has been dropped but Congress MP from Dibrugarh, PS Ghatowar, will now be Minister of State with Independent Charge of Development of the North Eastern Region.

In other minor changes, Minister for Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma will hold additional charge of Textiles; Parliamentary Affairs Minister PK Bansal will have additional charge of Water Resources and the new Law Minister, Salman Khurshid, will also be in charge of Minority Affairs.

MAJOR CHANGES IN THE CABINET

• Jairam Ramesh moves from Environment to Rural Development
• Jayanthi Natarajan is Minister of State with Independent Charge for Environment
• Vilasrao Deshmukh moves from Rural Development to Science and Technology
• Veerappa Moily moves from Law to Corporate Affairs
• Salman Khurshid takes over as Law Minister with additional charge of Minority Affairs

MINISTERS WHO'VE BEEN DROPPED    
M S Gill, B K Handique, Kantilal Bhuria, A Sai Prathap and Arun S Yadav

Also read: BJP says Cabinet reshuffle 'damp squib'