Congress non-committal about cabinet reshuffle

NEW DELHI - Amid speculation of a cabinet reshuffle later this week, the Congress Monday remained non-committal about any proposed changes in the government and party organisation.

Cabinet reshuffle is prerogative of the prime minister and formation of Congress Working Committee is the prerogative of the party president, Congress spokesman Manish Tewari told reporters here.

Tewari also did not comment to a question about the party following the one person one post norm in making changes. He said all such issues were the prerogative of party chief Sonia Gandhi.

There has been talk about a reshuffle in the Congress circles for the past few days, but the party has declined to comment on the issue.

Several Congress ministers in the government are holding party responsibilities as incharge of states. They include Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mukul Wasnik, M. Veerappa Moily, A.K. Antony and V. Narayanasamy.

Congress sources said that Sonia Gandhi is also to reconstitute the Congress Working Committee, the party’s highest apex decision making body. Sonia Gandhi was authorised to nominate the CWC at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) session in November.

There has been speculation about some young party MPs being inducted into the government and some ministers being brought back into the organisation.