New Delhi: A cabinet reshuffle, that has been on the cards, is likely to happen on Sunday. Sources said that ministers with additional charges are likely to lose portfolios.
Rahul Gandhi had met the President and the Prime Minister last week, a day after Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh had separate meetings with President Pranab Mukherjee. While sources close to Mr Gandhi say his meeting was not linked to the expected reshuffle, Congressmen have been urging him to take a larger role - he is currently General Secretary.
"The party and Rahul will decide", party spokesman Sandeep Dikshit told reporters on Monday when asked whether the young leader, who has been invited time and again by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to join the government, will do so
"It is purely the prerogative of the Prime Minister", Mr Dikshit said when asked when the reshuffle exercise is expected. He suggested that the Prime Minister in consultation with Sonia Gandhi, who is also the UPA Chairperson, will decide on the issue.
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.
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.
There are also berths vacated by DMK representatives A Raja and Dayanidhi Maran in the last two years after charges against them in the 2G spectrum allocation scam. However, DMK President M Karunanidhi has recently made clear that his party will not like to reclaim their lost berths.
