Azad’s exit clears decks for cabinet reshuffle

The naming of Union Urban Development Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad as the J&K chief minister is set to have a cascading effect at the Centre.Th...

The naming of Union Urban Development Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad as the J&K chief minister is set to have a cascading effect at the Centre.

The long-awaited cabinet reshuffle now appears imminent. This, in turn, is linked to the reconstitution of the Congress working committee and the appointment of a new set of AICC office-bearers.

The exit of Azad also vacates the parliamentary affairs portfolio, and with the winter session of Parliament scheduled to begin from November 23, PM Manmohan Singh will be hard pressed to find replacements.

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The ministry already has several vacancies caused by the death of Sunil Dutt (Sports) and resignations of Shibu Soren (Coal) and Jagdish Tytler (NRI Affairs). Soren, leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, has been desperately waiting in the wings to be taken back in the ministry after the loss of chief ministership. Besides, several important states like Orissa, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Uttaranchal, Himachal and Punjab are unrepresented in the ministry.

Sonia Gandhi is yet to constitute the CWC, Congress Election Committee and other party bodies after her re-election as president. She has to name the new office-bearers too, including AICC general secretaries.

Members of the AICC in most states have passed resolutions requesting Sonia to nominate the entire CWC. Rahul Gandhi is tipped for a nomination to the most powerful party forum. Since some people are expected to move from party organisation to the government and vice -versa, the two exercises are expected to take place in quick succession.

The AICC plenary session is due to be held in the latter half of January in Hyderabad. Sonia has to put a new team of office-bearers by then.