Cabinet Reshuffle 2011: Trinamool's gain & DMK's loss?

New Delhi, Jul 11: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi met several times since they announced their plan for union cabinet reshuffle 2011, though they have not yet declared the date. Sources said that cabinet reshuffle can be on Monday, Jul 11. However, chances appear to be brighter on Tuesday, Jul 12.

Meanwhile, many started discussing about the possible changes in the portfolios held by the ministers in the union cabinet. Sources informed that the big four ministers - finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, defence minister AK Antony, home minister P Chidambaram and external affairs minister SM Krishna - are unlikely to be touched though the initial thinking was to move out Krishna.

Sources also claimed that while West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) may gain power with the upcoming cabinet reshuffle, former Tamil Nadu CM M Karunanidhi's DMK may be disappointed. Mamata's close aide Sudip Bandhyopadhyay may finally get a break and could be inducted as Minister of State, possibly in the Finance Ministry in charge of Revenue.

Senior TMC leader Dinesh Trivedi may receive the railways portfolio which was vacated since Mamata has become the CM of West Bengal.

Minister of State Finance in charge of Revenue S S Palanimanickam may be upgraded to Cabinet rank in the wake of resignations by his DMK colleagues A Raja and Dayanidhi Maran from the Cabinet. Three of the top DMK party members have been caught in the spectrum scam including Karunanidhi's daughter, Kanimozhi and presently housed in the Tihar Jail.

OneIndia News