Click to play videoNew Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's team of Cabinet ministers needs to get younger. And younger it might well get, if the forthcoming Cabinet reshuffle takes place according to plan.
The Cabinet reshuffle is likely to take place on Sunday evening.
Like most times, it's not been an easy decision to take. In an election year, when Congress is trying to keep its flock of allies together and also win a few states, the faces in Dr Manmohan Singh's team could shape his party's future.
Accommodating the allies is the priority. The Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK), upset with Congress over the Sethusamundram and Hogenakkal issues, needs to be pleased.
Equally, there are Congress' own political compulsions. It faces polls in crucial states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh.
And then there is Rahul Gandhi, on a whirlwind tour of states, arguing for more representation of youth in governance.
"We have to give place to the youth," Rahul had said a t a rally a few days back.
Vyalar Ravi is likely to be made the Parliamentary Affairs minister. With Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Information & Broadcasting Priyaranjan Dasmunsi becoming West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee chief, he has to give up one of his ministries
Young MPs like Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sachin Pilot are likely to find a place. And they both belong to states going to polls later this year.
DMK will bag another ministry as it is an important ally but Suresh Pachauri whose term as a Rajya Sabha member ends may lose his berth.
This could well be the last Cabinet reshuffle of the UPA government. In these four years, the Congress has not always been successful in balancing its own interests and that of its allies.
But with the countdown to the big poll date having already started, it has to act now without any further delay.
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