Pranab gets MEA, Antony his due

With defence deals under scanner, Antony, known for a clean image, was the obvious choice.

It took a lot of persuasion from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi to get Pranab Mukherjee to accept the external affairs portfolio.

While Mukherjee was reluctant, he was the obvious choice because of his administrative experience. Having handled external affairs, finance and commerce portfolios in the past, Mukherjee was the ideal candidate for the job.

According to Congress sources, Mukherjee was earlier interested in heading the external affairs ministry only if the job came with the post of deputy prime minister.

But Congress President Sonia Gandhi last month ruled out appointment of a deputy prime minister, leaving little room for negotiation on this count.

What came as a surprise in today's reshuffle, though, was the name of Mukherjee's successor, AK Antony. Congress sources attributed the appointment to his reputation as "Mr clean of Indian politics."

With corruption charges dogging the defence ministry, Antony is expected to bring credibility and propriety in defence deals.

Senior Congress leader Oscar Fernandes was a minister without portfolio for several months now. His induction as Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Labour puts an end to speculation of him joining the party.

Kannada film star MH Ambareesh's induction as a minister of state is meant to increase representation from Karnataka in anticipatioin of the fall of HD Kumaraswamy government, sources say. Ambareesh belongs to the Vokkaliga community and is expected to counter Kumaraswamy's influence, who belongs to the same community.

RJD leader Jaiprakash Narayan had to resign last year after a Bihar court issued a non-bailable warrants against him for allegedly aiding the escape of his brother from police custody. His proximity to RJD supremo Lalu Yadav is said to be instrumental in his comeback.

MANMOHAN & HIS MEN

College dropout to Cabinet berth
55-year old MH Ambareesh is third-time Lok Sabha member from Mandya, the hotbed of Vokkaliga community politics in Karnataka

A college drop-out, he entered films in the early 1970s

The break came in 1980 when he played the lead role in Antha

Know as a "rebel star" for his portrayal as angry man and action hero

Campaigned for SM Krishna, the then deputy chief minister of Karnataka, in the mid-90s.

Joined the Congress but quit and threw his lot with the erstwhile Janata Dal after he was not given ticket for the Lok Sabha polls.

Elected to the Lok Sabha in 1998 from Mandya

Returned to the Congress and elected to the Lok Sabha in 1999 and 2004.

Positions come in search of Antony
66-year-old AK Antony was born in a family of modest means in Cherthala in Alappuzha district

Joined the Congress in school despite his hometown being a hotbed of Leftist politics

A law graduate, played a big role in building the Kerala Students Union and the Youth Congress, denying the Marxists monopoly over power

Appointed chief minister in 1977 but resigned two years later protesting the party's decision to field Indira Gandhi from Chikamagalur

After a few years, returned to the Congress, still led by Indira Gandhi, and made AICC general secretary by Rajiv Gandhi.

Returned as chief minister in 1994 after the removal of Karunakaran

Served as civil supplies minister in the PV Narasimha Rao Cabinet from 1993-95

Failed to lead the party to victory in 1996 and served as Opposition leader for the next five years

Appointed chief minister in 2001

Resigned after the Congress failed to win a single seat in 2004 Lok Sabha polls.

Dubbed by critics as a hyper-sensitive and extra-cautious politician

Resigned as chief minister twice, in 1979 and in 2004, and from the Union Cabinet in 1995

Pranab: Perennial Number 2?
Born in a freedom fighter's family in Birbhum district of West Bengal, 71-year-old Pranab Mukherjee did his Masters in History and Political Science from Calcutta University.

First inducted into the Cabinet in 1973 as deputy minister for industry by Indira Gandhi

Became commerce minister with Cabinet rank when she came back to power in 1980.

Called the "perennial number two," has been an important member of the Cabinet ever since the days of Indira Gandhi

Floated a party when expelled from the Congress after the assassination of Indira Gandhi, for allegedly nursing prime ministerial ambitions.

Worked as external affairs minister during the P V Narasimha Rao regime

PTI