Cabinet reshuffle on cards as Trinamool Congress ministers quit UPA

New Delhi: With the Trinamool Congress ministers pulling out of the government on Friday, a cabinet reshuffle is likely to take place over the next few days, the Congress sources said.

They said the reshuffle could be take place by the next week to fill vacancies in the cabinet and reallocate work among ministers.

Some ministers may be drafted for party or given responsibilities in the party along with those in the government as part of preparations for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, said the party sources.

The reshuffle is likely to take place in the next week to fill vacancies in the cabinet and reallocate work among ministers.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi will give final shape to the cabinet reshuflle after talking to allies of the United Progressive Alliance government, they said.

Railway Minister Mukul Roy along with five ministers of state from the Trinamool Congress submitted their resignations on Friday.

Congress sources said that the party is likely to induct a party leader from West Bengal in the cabinet. The names of Deepa Dasmunsi and Adhir Chowdhury have been doing the rounds as possible candidates.

The names of Andhra Pradesh actor-politician Chiranjeevi and former Rajya Sabha deputy chairman K Rahman are also doing the rounds.

Vacancies have been created by the passing away of Vilasrao Deshmukh and the resigation of Virbhadra Singh. Two ministers belonging to DMK - A Raja and Dayanidhi Maran - had resigned earlier.

Some ministers are holding dual charge. Corporate Affairs Minister M Veerappa Moily is also looking after the Power Ministry, while Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi has charge of Science and Technology.

Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal has been incharge of communications since A Raja was forced to quit in the wake of 2G spectrum allocation controversy.

There is no indication from the Congress so far that party general secretary Rahul Gandhi will join the government. Congress sources said there was likelihood of his assuming a bigger role in the party.

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