Antony to replace Pranab at defence: Video

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The long-awaited Cabinet reshuffle took place this evening, with Pranab Mukherjee set to be shifted from the defence ministry to external affairs.

His replacement in the defence ministry is expected to be former Kerala Chief Minister AK Antony.

Kannada actor and Member of Parliament Ambareesh and Rashtriya Janata Dal's Jaiprakash Narain Yadav, who had to resign as minister over alleged electoral malpractices in last year's Bihar elections, also took oath as ministers of state.

While Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did not announce the portfolios, sources in the Prime Minister's Office said it was now almost sure that Antony would be defence minister, with Ambareesh taking over as minister of state for information and broadcasting. Yadav could take over his old job at the ministry of water resources, the sources added.

Minister without portfolio Oscar Fernandes, tipped to take over as minister for labour, was in Mizoram and could not make it in time for today's ceremony.

He is expected to take oath when he reaches New Delhi. The reshuffle was finalised last evening after Singh met Congress President Sonia Gandhi and despite taking "no" for an answer from

Mukherjee on two previous occasions, according to sources, persuaded him to accept the job of foreign minister.

Meanwhile, a Rashtapati Bhavan communique said after the swearing in ceremony that Mani Shankar Aiyar would get Development of North Eastern Region in addition to Panchayati Raj, Youth Affairs and Sports.