PMO denies rating of ministers

In the midst of speculation about a Cabinet reshuffle, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) today dismissed as "totally baseless and mischievous" reports that it had done a rating of various ministers based on which some ministers could be dropped from the Union council on grounds of poor performance.

"The attention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been drawn once again to reports in the media alleging that the PMO has done a rating of various ministers. These reports are baseless and mischievous in intent and continue to appear despite earlier denials ," an official release said.