UPA switches power in Cabinet as India faces blackout

New Delhi: As half of India struggles to deal with collapse of northern and eastern power grid, the UPA leadership was involved in power tussle of a different kind.

Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, the man who should be answering questions on why for two days running has there been a power grid collapse, was promoted as the Home Minister. Not just that, Sushil Kumar Shinde is also set to be the new leader of Lok Sabha in Parliament.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwary said, "There is no power crisis in the country."

The timing of shifting of Shinde to Home Ministry and P Chidambram to Finance on a day like this was ideal ammunition for the Opposition.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi led the charge. Tweeting sarcastically, Modi said, "Pradhan Mantri ji, 60 cr people & 19 states are in darkness. Country wants to know is there any coalition dharma you are following here too?"

New Power Minister, Veerappa Moily, is the person who was removed from Law Ministry to Corporate Affairs last time around for his alleged poor performance as Law Minister.

BJP Spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "This just shows the weak resolve of the PM to deal with corruption."

Moily will hold additional charge of Power. He got a taste of what the power situation is. Lights going off in the middle of an interview. Moily was saying, "I cant start on a wrong note..."

Similar fate for Chidambram as well, just as he was giving his last comments as Home Minister, the lights went out.

Both Chidambram and Shinde have been under the scanner in the 2G Scam and Adarsh Society scam. Both have also not been pronounced guilty as yet. But on a day when the country was struggling with darkness, questions will be raised whether this UPA move will really bring the lights back.