After the Trinamool Congress had exited the government of UPA, a Cabinet reshuffle was imminent. It has been speculated that the Railway minister's position has been aspired by the government and since it was earlier held by a TMC minister, Mukul Roy the position would now be free for the government to sieze. A few sources pointed out that the third Railways minister this eyar could be the present Rural Development minister Jairam Ramesh. This position had been eyed by Congress since 1995 when it had its last Railway minister, Suresh Kalmadi.

There would not be any change in the bigger ministries- Defence Minister AK Antony, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and External Affairs Minister SM Krishna would be left untouched.

Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sachin Pilot will scaled up, sources say. Chief Minister's porfolio's would also stay the way they are. Minority Affairs portfolio may be grabbed by Rehman Khan, Science and Technology and Earth Sciences minister Ashwani Kumar might be upgraded.

Ministers who have more than one portfolio at present may be relieved of the excess burden. Verappa Moily would remain with power after losing the Corporate Affairs ministry while Vayalar Ravi would lose either Overseas Affairs or Science and technology.

Verappa Moily had received the second power after Sushul Kumar Shinde was made the home minister. Likewise Ravi originally had only the overseas ministry earlier until the untimely demise of Vilasrao Deshmukh, the then minister for Science and Technology.

Kapil Sibal would hold the HRD ministry. Rajya Sabha MP Chiranjeevi has his chances to realize his dream of being a Cabinet Minister. Agatha Sangma would be replaced by Tariq Anwar.

Rahul Gandhi aide and Congress MP Meenakshi Natarajan is also likely to be made a minister of state.
Sources quote that the reshuffle is likely to happen as early as next week.

(AW- Anil)