New Delhi:
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met the Prime Minister this morning amid increasing speculation of an imminent cabinet reshuffle. His party has been urging him to take a larger role - he is currently General Secretary. But sources close to Mr Gandhi say his meeting was not linked to the expected reshuffle.
The Prime Minister said recently that he would welcome Mr Gandhi in his cabinet. In July this year, Mr Gandhi had said he would play a "more pro-active role in the party and the government," adding that, "the decision has been taken; the timing is up to the leadership." However, Congress sources say Mr Gandhi is unlikely to accept a ministerial position.
In August, Dr Manmohan Singh said, "I have always been of the view that Rahul Gandhi should play a more proactive role. I have invited him to be part of the cabinet many times... I hope this time he will consider it very seriously." He had refused to answer reporters when the next cabinet reshuffle would take place.
Yesterday, Mr Gandhi's mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi met President Pranab Mukherjee, who was also called upon by the Prime Minister.
However, there's the possibility the PM and Mrs Gandhi may have visited Rashtrapati Bhawan wish the President for Durga Puja, which will be celebrated from this weekend till Tuesday next week.
Even when Mr Mukherjee was a senior minister in the government, a very busy one at that, he used to take four days off every year to celebrate the pujas in his village in West Bengal. This year too, he is scheduled to visit his village, on Saturday, October 20. This has also fired rumours that the reshuffle could be on Friday.
Six ministries are up for grabs since Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress pulled out of the Prime Minister's coalition government in September in protest against the decision to open up India's vast retail market to international super-stores like Walmart.