Elections in mind, UPA gets new set of ministers

Electoral considerations weighed heavily on what is likely to be the UPA's last cabinet reshuffle before a crucial period of state polls leading to the national hustings next year.

Electoral considerations weighed heavily on what is likely to be the UPA's last cabinet reshuffle before a crucial period of state polls leading to the national hustings next year.

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Eight new ministers — equally divided between cabinet and minister of state ranks — were inducted in moves calculated to please various communities in Rajasthan, consolidate the Congress's position in Andhra Pradesh and reward loyalists in Karnataka.

The appointments also came as a corollary to senior-level changes in the Congress party structure and the sacking of two ministers in corruption scams.
With Rajasthan assembly polls due in five months, the Congress inducted Jat octogenarian Sis Ram Ola and Brahmin leader Girija Vyas in the Union cabinet.