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Cabinet reshuffle, a meaningful change: Congress
As part of the revamp of the government that had faced criticism over perceived policy paralysis and corruption allegations, Pawan Kumar Bansal was shifted from Water Resources to Railways and S Jaipal Reddy moved from the high profile Petroleum to Science and Technology and Earth Sciences.
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Former Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman and veteran leader from Karnataka K Rahman Khan made a re-entry into the government as Minority Affairs Minister, a portfolio held by Khurshid. In UPA-I, Khan was a Minister of State.
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Surprisingly, Khurshid, who also held the portfolio of Law, got the high-profile External Affairs Ministry despite the controversy surrounding him over allegations of financial bungling by a trust run by him and his wife.
Dinsha Patel was promoted as Cabinet Minister in Mines Ministry in the reshuffle and expansion that raised the strength of the Council of Ministers to 78 from 67. Rahul Gandhi, who was earlier speculated to join the government, kept away with the Prime Minister saying the young leader wants to strengthen the party, notwithstanding his request to become a minister.
The exercise, which the Prime Minister said was "hopefully, probably the last" before next Lok Sabha polls, was confined to Congress party barring the inclusion of Tariq Anwar of NCP as a Minister of State.
22 ministers were administered the oath of office and secrecy by President Pranab Mukherjee at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan attended by Vice President Hamid Ansari, the Prime Minister, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Cabinet Ministers and Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj.
The Prime Minister took away portfolios from ministers holding more than one charge and filled in the vacancies created by exit of six Trinamool Ministers, death of Vilasrao Deshmukh and resignation of eight Ministers including S M Krishna, Virbhadra Singh, Ambika Soni, Mukul Wasnik and Subodh Kant Sahai.
The new faces brought in included actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi who has been made MoS with Independent charge in the Ministry of Tourism while Manish Tewari has been given I&B, a portfolio held by Ambika Soni who resigned yesterday.
Shashi Tharoor, who had to quit as MoS External Affairs in April 2010 in the wake of allegations of wrongdoing in buying stakes in an IPL team, has made a comeback as MoS HRD.
Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal shed HRD portfolio to M M Pallam Raju, who has been promoted in the reshuffle. Earlier, Raju was Minister of State for Defence.
Another significant promotion has been made in the case of Ashwani Kumar who has been upgraded to the Cabinet rank and given the charge of the Law Ministry held by Khurshid.
Yet another upgradation has been made in the case of Harish Rawat, who was overlooked for the post of Chief Minister of Uttarakhand earlier this year and had revolted.
From MoS in Agriculture Ministry, he has now been made a Cabinet Minister for Water Resources.
The other promotions are Dinsha Patel from MoS to Cabinet Minister in the Mines Ministry and Ajay Maken, who has been shifted from Sports to Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation.
Significant changes have also been made by upgrading three young Ministers of State, considered close to Rahul Gandhi, and giving them independent charge.
They are Jyotiraditya Scindia who has been given Power and Sachin Pilot Corporate Affairs, both of which were held by Moily in Cabinet rank. Jitendra Singh, who was MoS in Home Ministry, has been given Youth and Sports Affairs.
Veteran Congress leader and MoS K H Muniyappa has been shifted from Railways to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and Bharatsinh Solanki from Railways to Drinking Water and Sanitation with Independent charge.
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The other Ministers of State who have been shifted are D Purandeswari (from HRD to Commerce and Industry), Jitin Prasada (from Road Transport to Defence and HRD), S Jagathrakshakan (from I&B to New and Renewable Energy), K C Venugopal (from Power to Civil Aviation) and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajiv Shukla who gets additional charge of Planning.
MoS External Affairs E Ahamed has shed the additional charge of HRD while R P N Singh has been shifted from Petroleum to Home.
Cabinet Minister Vayalar Ravi retains Overseas Indian Affairs, Kapil Sibal Communications and IT, Jairam Ramesh Rural Development while Selja has been shifted from HUPA to Social Justice and Empowerment.
The new faces who have been inducted as MoS are K Suresh (Labour and Employment), Tariq Anwar (Agriculture and Food Processing Industries), K J Suryaprakash Reddy (Railways), Ranee Narah (Tribal Affairs), Adhir Ranjan Chowdhry (Railways), A H Khan Chowdhry (Health and Family Welfare), S Satyanarayana (Road Transport and Highways), Ninong Ering (Minority Affairs), Deepa Dasmunsi (Urban Development), P Balram Naik (Social Justice and Empowerment), K Kruparani (Communications and IT) and Lalchand Kataria (Defence).
Railways portfolio was being held by C P Joshi as additional charge since Trinamool Congress quit the government last month.
We are presenting a tainted MP to foreigners as an example of our abuse of power. The decision is bad and unethical. The common man will not mind giving Salman Khurshid support. But giving him the post of MEA is really bad. Corrupt will get upgraded and most corrupt will get maximum benefit.
What is the use of this reshuffle to the country and common man? When these guys are not able to root out corruption in the government and administration WE NEED LEADERS WITH VISION AND STRONG LEADERSHIP NOT YES MEN BUT PEOPLE WHO CAN USE THEIR GRAY MATTER FOR THE PEOPLE AND COUNTRY NOT FOR THEMSELVES. IT IS LIKE "GUDDIKANNU THERICHINA MOOSINA OKETE" (A EYE WITH WITH OUT SIGHT DOES NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHETHER IT IS OPEN OR CLOSED) JAIHIND
It is evident frm Cabinet reshuffle 5 that Cngress depends on support from Southern paties and they have no confidence on getting support from North Indiai during next General electns.
Salman Khurshid's shameful outburst on Khejeriwal disqualifies him from any public office. It seems Congress under Sonia is on a slippery slope which will end in grief sooner than later. Congress needs a saviour, lateral thinking and a doer. The present corrupt leadership should be punished in an early election and relegated to the dustbin of history.
The socalled cabinet reshuffle is only cosmetic change without any objectives. Arrogance of the congress is evident in upgradation of Salman Khurshid to External Affairs. Is this the message given by congress to foreign countries? Manish Tiwari is rewarded well for protecting ministers of coalgate, Lawgate and the son-in-law. What a waste of time! We have to tolerate these things because we are Indians.
The reshuffle of ministry of Manmohan singh has not changed its satus, same old Namk haram's are being given post or elevated to the higher post.Youngster's have not been given proper inportance or recognitions, hence standard of work system, efficiency of the ministry will not improve.If this is the status, what for reshefulling wanted at this hour.Hope youngster's was not given chance because they may change hole system and may be the problem for looters, corruption minister and corrupt ministers,smullglers, Black money holders etc., etc.Most unfortunate thing is, we cannot expect any improvement in any field with the present set of Ministers, Government. Now it is time for the public,s, voters to decide about change of Government, and change is must for the benefit of India, If at all needs good, honest and sincere Government, must not elect the same congress party, same old politicians, same old ministers.
What is the use of an expansion? The poor millionaire ministers will turn to be a poor billionaires? Let god save my nation.
We have to welcome the new ministers are appointed. They have to dedicate their duties to bring more development to India. There is one more minister require to monitor all other ministers whether they are doing their jobs no fail and no bribe.
