With the results of the state Assembly elections less than a month away, many Union ministers are already nervous about their future. Not only has Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured that there will be a reshuffle of the Union council of ministers “after” the Budget session of Parliament, but the likely outcome of the state elections is expected to create vacancies as well as renewed lobbying by aspirants. Consequently ministers are getting active either to prove their worth and avoid being dropped or to make hay while the sun still shines!
Fuelling a facelift
Shastri Bhavan is home to some of the government’s most crucial ministries including the petroleum and natural gas that has been in news following the Cairn-Vedanta deal. Infrastructure and looks-wise, the building is not the best among the ruling Bhavans. But every now and then the odd effort is made to give it a facelift. After getting a new minister in January, it was the petroleum ministry’s turn. All entrances that lead to the ministry on second floor have acquired new glass doors with “Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas” written on them. And more work is lined up. Plans are on to demolish the ministry’s conference room to enlarge it and also to change the location of minister Jaipal Reddy’s room.
