indianexpress.com :: Cabinet reshuffle may not see many young faces

Cabinet reshuffle may not see many young faces

Agencies

Posted online: Saturday, February 02, 2008 at 2013 hrs IST

New Delhi, February 2:
Amid talks that a reshuffle of the Union Council of Ministers is expected soon, the Congress indicated that the exercise may not see many young faces.

Unlike in the past, this is not a party government and therefore there are bound to be limitations because of the coalition character, AICC General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi suggested.

Dwivedi also insisted that the Congress has maximum young leaders as compared to any other party and it has always strove to encourage the youth.

Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi has been herself a votary of giving more opportunities to the young leaders in the party and in government.

In the reshuffle of the AICC Secretariat in September last year, she brought in a number of young faces, including her son Rahul Gandhi.

Besides, she brought in several Union Ministers, including Prithviraj Chavan, Ajay Maken, Jairam Ramesh and Shakeel Ahmed into the party in various capacities in order to be well-versed in the organisation.

Party leaders are maintaining that Gandhi had utilized the opportunity to give these ministers, who were relatively less burdened in the government, to work in the party.

Young leaders like Sandeep Dikshit, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sachin Pilot and Jitin Prasada have also been given some responsibility in the organisation.

The talk in party as well as government circles is that a reshuffle of the Union Ministries is possible before the Budget Session of Parliament.

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Cabinet reshuffle may not see many young faces Agencies Posted online: Saturday, February 02, 2008 at 2013 hrs IST New Delhi, February 2: Amid talks that a reshuffle of the Union Council of Ministers is expected soon, the Congress indicated that the exercise may not see many young faces. Unlike in the past, this is not a party government and therefore there are bound to be limitations because of the coalition character, AICC General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi suggested. Dwivedi also insisted that the Congress has maximum young leaders as compared to any other party and it has always strove to encourage the youth. Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi has been herself a votary of giving more opportunities to the young leaders in the party and in government. In the reshuffle of the AICC Secretariat in September last year, she brought in a number of young faces, including her son Rahul Gandhi. Besides, she brought in several Union Ministers, including Prithviraj Chavan, Ajay Maken, Jairam Ramesh and Shakeel Ahmed into the party in various capacities in order to be well-versed in the organisation. Party leaders are maintaining that Gandhi had utilized the opportunity to give these ministers, who were relatively less burdened in the government, to work in the party. Young leaders like Sandeep Dikshit, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sachin Pilot and Jitin Prasada have also been given some responsibility in the organisation. The talk in party as well as government circles is that a reshuffle of the Union Ministries is possible before the Budget Session of Parliament.