Cabinet rejig expected after end of monsoon session

With the cabinet reshuffle likely to take place after the monsoon session ends in August, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to retain the finance ministry for now.

With the cabinet reshuffle likely to take place after the monsoon session ends in August, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to retain the finance ministry for now.

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Considering that finance minister Pranab Mukherjee is contesting the presidential election and Virbhadra Singh has resigned from the cabinet, a reshuffle-possibly the last one before the 2014 general elections-is on the cards.

Top Congress sources told HT on Thursday that virtually no window is available in the next two months for rejig. "For now, the party is focussing on the presidential poll. The new President will take over on July 25. The monsoon session is likely to start from July 30. There is no time for induction of new ministers," said a UPA minister.

A Congress strategist said talks about the reshuffle have not taken place in the party so far. "It is always the PM's prerogative to decide on the timing, but it is likely to happen after the monsoon session - given the fact that the party also needs to prepare for the vice-presidential poll in August," he said.

While Planning Commission deputy chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Prime Minister's economic advisory council chairman C Rangarajan are assisting the PM on shaping the economy, the party is expected to opt for a politician to head the finance ministry.