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UPA : Cabinet expansion ? |
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There is speculation about the expansion of the Union Cabinet and restructuring of the AICC Secretariat after Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s return from Russia. The core group of the UPA is said to have met on Friday (June 17) during which the subject of the cabinet expansion is reported to have figured. Sonia Gandhi had talks with veteran CPI(M) leader Harkishan Singh Surjeet on hike in petroleum prices on Friday. The prevailing political situation in the country, especially the coming Assembly elections in Bihar came up for discussion.
Reports say the prospects of cabinet expansion are high as certain ministerial berths in the Congress quota have been vacant since May last year when, at the time of Government formation, UPA allies availed themselves of their share in power. But fresh inductions could be more at the level of Ministers of State to give representation to states like Kerala, Orissa, Chhatisgarh, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.
If not all unrepresented states. at least some among them will have faces in the reshuffled team.
From Kerala, the toss-up apparently is between Rajya Sabha Members, A.K. Antony and Vyalar Ravi. Regardless of who is lucky, up for grabs in their case, is a cabinet post given their seniority and the fact that Kerala is gearing up for polls next year. The same holds true of Punjab where the Congress wants to stem its diminishing hold in the run up to fresh elections in a year.
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