Cong eyes DMK, NCP portfolios in Cabinet reshuffle

A Cabinet reshuffle is likely by July 10, a fortnight before the monsoon session of the Parliament begins, sources told rediff.com on Tuesday.

The Congress wants its allies like the Nationalist Congress Party, the Trinamool Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam to hand over some of their high-profile and 'profitable' portfolios, said sources.

The ruling party reportedly wants Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar to part with the food portfolio, so that it can be allotted to the Congress's new found ally and Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh.

The Congress is also eyeing the ministry of telecom, currently handled by DMK Member of Parliament A Raja along with the information technology portfolio.

According to sources, the Congress wants to accommodate Lok Janshakti Party president Ram Vilas Paswan in the Cabinet by assigning the ministry of petrochemicals to him. Currently, DMK leader M K Alagiri is in charge of the ministry of chemicals, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and fertilisers.

Since Sharad Pawar was elected as the president of the International Cricket Council last week, speculation about a Cabinet reshuffle has been rife in New Delhi's corridors of power. But the process gained momentum on Tuesday after Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel met Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and also called up Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran.

Minor changes at the minister of state level are also likely, said sources. Congress leaders have refused to comment on the latest developments.