Cabinet reshuffle likely tomorrow

New Delhi, Oct 23 (UNI) The Union Cabinet is likely to be reshuffled tomorrow, Congress sources said tonight.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here this evening and is understood to have discussed the proposed changes in the Cabinet.

In particular, she is understood to have discussed with the Prime Minister the names of some Congress leaders to be considered for the post of the new external affairs minister.

In all probability the choice for the post is likely to fall on Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee. In that eventuality the defence portflio could be alloted to someone else in the cabinet or could be retained by the prime minister himself.

Also in the run for the post is senior Congress leader Dr Karan Singh.

The Prime Minister is holding the External Affairs portfolio since November last year when Mr K Natwar Singh resigned after the Justice Pathak Authority indicted him for his alleged involvement in the Iraq Oil-for-Food scam.

UNI SN YS Mir RAI0011