Fingers crossed in countdown to reshuffle

Perhaps,in anticipation,Virbhadra Singh said last week that he would not contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

With changes in key portfolios including a possible rejig in the top four posts,a July first week schedule now looks imminent for the much-awaited cabinet reshuffle that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh proposed to undertake.

Singh,sources said,is expected to hold another round of consultations with Congress president Sonia Gandhi this weekend,which her son Rahul is also likely to attend. Rahul cut short his visit abroad to be back in the capital to attend the CWC meet tomorrow.

At least four senior ministers,including Corporate Affairs Minister Murli Deora,DONER minister B K Handique,Statistics and Programme Implementation minister M S Gill and Micro,Small and Medium Industries minister Virbhadra Singh are said to be in the danger zone and could be dropped,according to sources.

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Perhaps,in anticipation,Virbhadra Singh said last week that he would not contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Singh,whose clout is still intact in Himachal Pradesh,where assembly elections are due next year,has been known to armtwist the central leadership in the past. The drop list may also include tribal minister Kantilal Bhuria,who was made party chief in Madhya Pradesh recently.

All eyes,though,are on whether Sonia and Manmohan go for changes at the top that will alter the composition of the core group. Senior UPA functionaries feel Foreign Minister S M Krishnas fate hangs in the balance and if he is dropped,it could pave the way for the entry of someone like Ghulam Nabi Azad or even Kapil Sibal into the exclusive club. Any change in the Finance Ministry is being ruled out where Pranab Mukherjee will continue,leaving the rejig to be done between Home,Defence and External Affairs.

Many top ministers are apprehensive that they may be either dropped or shifted and have already initiated a media blitz to showcase the work in their respective ministries. Among those worried on this count include law minister Veerappa Moily,urban development minister Kamal Nath,rural development minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and labour minister Mallikarjun Kharge. A shakeup in the environment ministry may also take place,sources say,with Jairam Ramesh being sent to either Power or Urban Development and Salman Khurshid replacing him.

To widen the accountability ambit,a minister suggested setting up a coordination committee that could include all parties supporting the UPA. By and large,otherwise,UPA allies will not be affected much by the reshuffle except for an elevation for the Trinamool nominee Mukul Roy in the railway ministry. Earlier this week,West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee asserted at a press conference that her party would have one cabinet berth in the government and that she was keen to retain the Railway Ministry.