Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has assumed additional charge of the Communications Ministry.

Although changing portfolios is an unusual move by a caretaker Prime Minister, it appears to have been prompted by the PMO's dissatisfaction with Jagmohan's handling of the telecom license issue.

Jagmohan's insistence on recovering outstanding dues from private telecom operators was seen as obstructing the Government's efforts to attract private investment in this vital infrastructure sector. It has been the cause for a prolonged conflict between the PMO and the Communications Ministry.

The decision to move Jethmalani to the Law Ministry seems to stem from the Government's perception that it needs a full-time Law Minister to handle the many legal decisions itmay have to take through its extended caretaker period.

These include several ordinances relating to budgetary proposals, as demanded by Federation of Industrial Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), and a fresh ordinance giving statutory powers to the Central Vigilance Commission. According to official sources, the CVC has raised this in a letter to the Prime Minister, pointing out that the Commission's status is not in keeping with the Supreme Court ruling.