UPA not to celebrate one year in office

Although the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is completing one year of rule under Manmohan Singh next week, celebrations have been put on hold under express orders from the Prime Minister and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

The first anniversary of the government will not see any giant advertisements or even a celebratory meal for the council of ministers.

Instead, a brochure listing the government's achie-vements so far, will be compiled. All ministers have been asked to report success stories relating to their departments to the Prime Minister's Office.

The reason for disciplining the celebrations is the widespread destruction caused by tsunami in December 2004. Singh had also declined to celebrate Holi this year for the same reason. For him, it is stock-taking time.

Singh will review the performance of secretaries in batches. Some have been interviewed and the process will continue once he returns from Russia.

"Secretaries have been asked to prepare a 10-minute presentation on their respective ministries and will later be quizzed by the Prime Minister. This is being done to gauge the working of the government in the last one year or so," said a PMO source.

The first anniversary of the UPA government may also see a reshuffle of the council of ministers, although huge changes should not be expected.

"The council of ministers has been crafted in such fashion that there is little space to change anything," said a source. Instead, at least six junior ministers or ministers of state and deputy ministers may be added to the council.

Power Minister PM Sayeed, who is facing trouble in his ministry owing to power crises and because of an abysmal record in unbundling of state electricity boards, will, in all probability, get a junior minister to help him out.

The petroleum and panchayati raj ministries are going to be separated. At present, Mani Shankar Aiyar heads both. A minister of state for Petroleum is expected to be added to the council of ministers.

The Prime Minister's dilemma is that he can only move around a few Congress ministers and among them, several are favourites of 10, Janpath. Some, in fact, are untouchable. Therefore, the reshuffle is not expected to be a major one.