Over half-a-dozen ministers,including at least four Cabinet Ministers,are set to be dropped from the Council of Ministers in the Cabinet reshuffle to be effected by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday. Among those who have reportedly been asked to resign are Kantilal Bhuria,B K Handique and M S Gill. Murli Deora,who had earlier offered to resign to Congress president Sonia Gandhi,will also bow out of the Cabinet. While Dinesh Trivedi is likely to get the Railways portfolio,Beni Prasad Verma is also set to be elevated to the Cabinet. Among those tipped to find a berth in the Council of Ministers are Assam MP Paban Singh Ghatowar,Milind Deora,Chhattisgarh MP Charandas Mahant and Trinamool Congresss Sudip Bandopadhyay. Ministers of State E Ahamed and Gurudas Kamat are likely to be given independent charge. Kapil Sibal is likely to retain the Human Resource Development portfolio,while there may be a change at the helm in the Law Ministry. Water Resources Minister Salman Khursheed and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal were being considered as possible replacements,although Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi could be a surprise candidate for the post,top sources said.Prime Minister Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi deliberated on the issue this morning once again their fourth meeting in the last three weeks. The attempt is to finalise a list that should not only fill the vacancies,but also send a strong political message of performance. At least four Ministers of State are likely to be removed. They include Arun Yadav,Sai Pratap and Mahadeo Khandela. The Railway Ministry,which hit the headlines over the weekend for one of the worst accidents in recent times,is finally likely to get a full-fledged cabinet minister with Dinesh Trivedi,who is the Minister of State for Health at present,the clear frontrunner to take over Rail Bhawan. His party colleague,Sudip Bandopadhyay,could take his place in the Health Ministry as a junior minister,sources said. With Khursheed expected to get a more high-profile portfolio and Beni Prasad Vermas elevation to Cabinet rank,it is being seen as a clear step by the party to continue its focus on Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Assembly elections next year. The top four posts of Finance,Defence,Home and External Affairs are likely to remain touched,a decision that comes as a big relief for External Affairs Minister S M Krishna. According to sources,Krishna met Prime Minister Singh over the weekend to get dates for US Secretary of State Hilary Clintons visit beginning July 19. The sources said Singh not only confirmed the timing for his interaction with Clinton but also asked Krishna to prepare for India-Pakistan Foreign Minister-level talks in the last week of July. The reshuffle,sources said,may see Jairam Ramesh being moved from Environment and Forests,Sushil Kumar Shinde losing the Power portfolio and Vilasrao Deshmukh being divested of Panchayati Raj. Others who may be be moved to different ministries include Vyalar Ravi,Mallikarjun Kharge,Selja and Mukul Wasnik. The PM is likely to keep two berths vacant for the DMK,whose representatives A Raja and Dayanidhi Maran had to step down after being charged by the CBI in connection with the 2G spectrum case. The DMK has indicated to the Congress leadership that it will take a call on replacements only after the partys general council meeting on July 23-24. Gill,Bhuria may be dropped * Cabinet ministers B K Handique,Kantilal Bhuria,M S Gill,Murli Deora likely to be dropped. * Ministers of State Arun Yadav,Sai Pratap,Mahadeo Khandela may be dropped. * Sudip Bandopadhyay,Milind Deora,Paban Singh Ghatowar,Charandas Mahant may be inducted. * Beni Prasad Verma,Dinesh Trivedi may be elevated to Cabinet. * E Ahamed,Gurudas Kamat may be given independent charge. * Jairam Ramesh,Sushil Kumar Shinde,Vilasrao Deshmukh,Ambika Soni,Mallikarjun Kharge,Selja,Mukul Wasnik,Vyalar Ravi may be shifted from existing departments. * Two berths likely to be kept vacant for DMK.
