Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Rajnath Singh and Shiv Sena leader Subodh Mohite are likely to be inducted into the Union Council of Ministers when Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee reshuffles his team on Saturday evening.
Minister of State for Road Transport B C Khanduri is likely to be elevated to a Cabinet rank, highly placed sources said.
Vajpayee, it is learnt, has deferred the induction of Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee into his team following her refusal to clear party colleague Sudip Bandopadhyay's name for a ministerial post.
Mohite is expected to replace Union Heavy Industries Minister Balasaheb Vikhe Patil, who has resigned on the directive of his party chief Bal Thackeray.
Five new ministers of state are also expected to be sworn in.
The sources said there would be no representation from the MDMK, whose minister Gingee Ramachandran had to resign in the wake of allegations against his personal assistant in a bribery case.
There are indications that Rajiv Pratap Rudy might get independent charge of Ministry of Civil Aviation, presently held by Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, who is tipped to get the Textiles Ministry.
Kashiram Rana, who holds the textiles portfolio, is likely to be moved to rural development, held as an additional charge by Urban Development Minister Ananth Kumar.
