Cabinet reshuffle likely soon

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to reshuffle his Cabinet soon after Pratibha Patil takes over as the President, official sources said.

Though there are many aspirants for berths in the Cabinet, sources said the reshuffle has been mainly necessitated due to the compulsion of the Congress to shift K Rehman Khan, senior party leader from Andhra Pradesh and Rajya Sabha deputy chairman, from his present job.

Khan is to be suitably "adjusted" after Mohammad Hamid Ansari becomes the vice-president and ex-officio chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. Ansari election as vice-president remains a mere formality given the clear majority the UPA and allies have in Parliament.

As per conventions, one of the presiding officers of the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha has to be from the Opposition.

Speculations are also rife over the likely induction of Kanimozhi, daughter of DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, into the Cabinet. Kanimozhi has recently been elected to the Rajya Sabha and is aspiring for a the berth in the Cabinet vacated by Dayanidhi Maran from DMK.

Karunanidhi is likely to meet the PM tomorrow soon after Kanimozhi takes oath as the Rajya Sabha member. Sources said he is likely to propose Kanimozhi's induction into the Cabinet to the PM. The DMK chief, sources said, could seek the portfolio of information technology and telecom for his daughter.

Political circles are also agog with reports of Mani Shankar Aiyar being divested of one of the three departments he currently retains ""Youth and Sports, Panchayati Raj and Department of Development of North East Region.

Official sources said Singh is likely to induct a full-time minister for sports given the fact that massive preparations need to be put in place for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.