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Union cabinet to be expanded around Diwali

The deferred expansion of the Vajpayee ministry is likely to take place around Diwali, even though the exercise was deferred till after the winter session of Parliament, Bharatiya Janata Party sources have indicated.

The compelling reason for such an exercise is to accommodate the ousted Delhi chief minister Sahib Singh Verma, the sources said.

At least six ministers -- two from the BJP, including Verma, two from the All India Anna DMK, one each from the Samata Party and the Akali Dal -- would find berths in the cabinet before or soon after Diwali, the sources said.

It is believed that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had talked to AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha in this regard on Monday night.

Talking to newspersons, BJP national vice-president Krishan Lal Sharma confirmed that Verma would be inducted in the Union cabinet very soon. " Vermaji bahut jaldi kendriya mantrimandal mein honge,'' (Varma would very soon be in the Union ministry).

When pointed out that the government had deferred expansion till after the assembly elections were over, Sharma said he would be inducted much before the elections.

Sharma remained non-committal about whether Delhi's new chief minister Sushma Swaraj would contest the assembly elections. He said this would be decided by the party's central election committee.

UNI

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