Crack in UPA:Cabinet reshuffle leaves Sibal and Reddy fuming
Reddy's transfer from the crucial Oil Ministry to Science and Technology Ministry has raised eyebrows within Congress and in political circles at large, said sources. Moreover, Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) being taken away from Sibal has shocked the senior Congress leader, informed sources. Now, Sibal has to only look after the Telecom ministry. Sources said that Sibal had introduced several reforms in HRD ministry during his tenure. It is also said that HRD ministry was close to Sibal's heart. MM Pallam Raju has been elevated from Minister of State for Defence and is now the Human Resource Minister.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's big bang cabinet reshuffle, where youth and loyalty were paid handsomely, is drawing flak from within the UPA's own camp. Even Samajwadi Party has slammed the reshuffle.
"No senior leaders from UP have been made ministers. In fact, tainted ministers have been elevated. Salman Khurshid has become the External Affairs Ministers and one minister who is named in the coal scam has been promoted," Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav said.
Congress's own General Secretary Digvijaya Singh is also not pleased with the low representation given to his state Madhya Pradesh in the union cabinet. "Sonia Gandhi and the PM must have given these decisions a lot of thought. Yes, we were a little disappointed in Madhya Pradesh but our focus now is to prepare for the general elections," Digvijaya Singh said.
OneIndia News