The coming week should see a lot of action in the government. On September 5, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be leaving for US on a fortnight-long visit. Quite a few pending issues, therefore, will have to be settled before his departure in just about a week. A reallocation of ministries is on the cards.
The demise of Rangarajan Kumaramangalam has meant that a new power minister has to be appointed. Earlier, the exist of Ram Jethmalani had led to a minor reallocation of ministries. Arun Jaitley was given the additional charge of the ministry of law and justice (earlier held by Jethmalani), while he had to do without his favourite portfolio of disinvestment department, which was handed over to Arun Shourie.
Perhaps, a reallocation of ministries will not be enough. With two important ministers out of the government, Vajpayee may well settle for a minor expansion of the council of ministers. There are reports that Sushma Swaraj, who took the backseat after Sonia Gandhi defeated her at the elections, may return to the cabinet. What ministry Swaraj gets is anybody