If at all a reshuffle was necessary, Defence Minister George Fernandes should have been shifted out, Congress spokesman Ajit Jogi said, adding that the reshuffle was unconstitutional as it was done by a caretaker government.

He alleged that Jagmohan was shifted out from Communications to benefit certain cellular companies. ``Jagmohan paid the price for initiating tough action against companies having links with some people in the government,'' he added.

Janata Dal leader S Jaipal Reddy said that it was a well-known fact that Jagmohan had dug his heels on the question of licence payable by private telephone and cellular operators. The minister had insisted that the operators should fulfill their contractual and legal obligations. The prime minister's office on theother hand wanted a new policy that gave the operators freer and easier terms, he said.

``The PMO is obviously under pressure from certain industrial houses. This mid-course change in policy will open a Pandora's box and gives scope for unending litigation,'' Reddy said.

The CPI(M) also criticised the shifting of Jagmohan, saying that this was done to the benefit telephone companies who owed the government Rs 4,500 crore in licence fees. The Prime minister had tarnished his image by ``resorting to this blatant act of favouritism on behalf of big business.''

The PMO would have no right whatsoever to change in any manner the decisions taken by the Communications Ministry to recover dues owed by defaulting phone companies, the party said.