After reshuffling his Cabinet dropping seven ministers and inducting 8 fresh faces Prime Minister Manmohan Singh surprised all by announcing this would be the last rejig before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. He said two slots have been kept vacant for the DMK as part of the UPA's coalition dharma. Talking to reporters after the swearing-in of 11 ministers at Rashtrapati Bhavan,Singh said the resuffle reflects a balance necessary between various states,and consideration of efficiency,consideration of continuity in the government. As far as I am concerned this is the last reshuffle before we go to polls (in 2014), he said,adding,This exercise is as comprehensive as possible. Asked whether he anticipated problems after the reshuffle because some ministers being unhappy,Singh said,There are bound to be problems when there is some redistribution of portfolios. We have taken into account the best interests of the country. At the same time,he said two ministerial slots have been kept vacant for DMK. It is part of our coalition dharma. I hope their decision will be coming soon, the Prime Minister said. DMK,which lost two ministerial berths due to the resignation of A Raja and Dayanidhi Maran in the wake of allegations against them in the 2G scam,is expected to decide on the slots during its General Council meeting on July 23. When asked if the government was hopeful of overcoming problems it is facing,Singh said,Definitely,there is no doubt. Asked about shifting Jairam Ramesh from the Environment Ministry to Rural Development with a promotion,Singh said he has been given more extensive responsibility. His experience will be better utilised in this portfolio. Asked why Rahul Gandhi was still not included in the Council of Ministers,the Prime Minister said,I requested him several times to join the Cabinet but he has said he has responsibilities in the organisation. On Gandhi's recent 'padyatra',he said he had undertaken it to get to know the needs of farmers,who are the most important people in terms of their contribution to national growth and agricultural production. Their contribution is enormous. He said Rahul Gandhi was making efforts to better understand farmers' problems.
