It's Final: Rahul not to join government

Rahul says no, but wants a youthful look for Manmohan Singh's government.

Rahul Gandhi has decided NOT to join the government. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's repeated requests to Rahul to join his Cabinet have gone in vain.

A top-level political and government source told Rediff.com that "Rahul Gandhi will not be joining the government."

Rahul is, however, engaged in hectic discussions with Dr Singh to give the government a youthful look.

Young ministers like Sachin Pilot, 35, and Jyotiraditya Scindia, 41, will be elevated to the Cabinet, but will not be in too senior a position, the source added. "They will be at the middle level in the government."

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna will leave his coveted post. But Dr Singh and the Congress leadership are finding it hard to reach an agreement on Krishna's replacement.

Dr Singh has sprung "a huge surprise" on the party while debating Krishna's replacement, the source added.

Many rounds of talks have already taken place about who should be India's next minister for external affairs.

All eyes are also on Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Dr Singh's confidante and deputy chairman of the Planning Commission. There is speculation about his induction in the Cabinet. Manish Tiwari, the voluble Congress party spokesman, will be made a minister, at last!