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Cabinet expansion at 'appropriate time': PM

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today set at rest speculation about the immediate expansion of his cabinet, saying he will take a decision at an appropriate time .

Replying to questions from newspersons in New Delhi on the expansion of his cabinet, he said no decision has been taken yet. However, he admitted that there were a few vacancies, following the resignation of Nitish Kumar, Naveen Patnaik and Uma Bharti.

These vacancies would be filled at an appropriate time, Vajpayee said after the investiture ceremony for the conferment of Padma awards.

The prime minister did not say when he proposed to undertake the cabinet expansion.

There had been media speculation that the prime minister would expand his council of ministers after the Rajya Sabha elections. Sushma Swaraj, among others, was mentioned as a prospective candidate for a cabinet berth.

UNI

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