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Congress : Sonia re-elected as party chief

	May 30, 2005

Sonia Gandhi was formally re-elected as Congress president for the third term last week. Her election had been a foregone conclusion since the organisational elections were announced. There was no opposition to her candidature for the post. She had taken over the reins of the party in March 1998.

Over 100 sets of nominations had been filed in her favour. Soon after her re-election, Sonia Gandhi told partymen on Saturday, May 28, that she would work shoulder-to-shoulder with them to build the organisation. Mentioning that the Congress had returned to power at the Centre in the face of several challenges, Sonia Gandhi said the partymen need to work harder than ever before.

Observers say that Sonia Gandhi may reshuffle party office bearers in her third term as president. There is also a possibility of her son, Rahul Gandhi, being given a role in party affairs.



Cabinet reshuffle on the cards

There are indications that the Prime Minister may undertake a reshuffle of his Council of Ministers next month. The reshuffle may take place any time after President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam returns to New Delhi from his four-nation tour on June 4. The cabinet reshuffle may have a link with the party restructuring likely to be carried out by Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

There is speculation that some Congress Ministers may be dropped and brought back to the organisation. Similarly, some AICC functionaries could find themselves in the Manmohan Singh Government.

There are already some vacant slots in the Union Cabinet. JMM chief Shibu Soren who had become Chief Minister of Jharkhand for a brief stint, wants to come back to the Union Cabinet. Sports Minister Sunil Dutt’s death has created another vacancy in the Council of Ministers. Former Kerala Chief Minister A.K. Antony, who is set to be elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) may also be considered for a cabinet berth. Observers say that his clean image may be used by the UPA Government to offset the profile of tainted Ministers.