Talked down

On the eve of the Cabinet reshuffle last week, a Union Cabinet minister who was tipped to be promoted to a more powerful ministry, was preparing for his bigger role. The agenda for his first day in his new office was almost finalised and a speech was prepared. More than this minister, however, his likely successor in the ministry was excited about the prospects of being elevated to Cabinet rank and went to the extent of sharing the news with the local press in her southern constituency. When the final list appeared, neither name figured. It turned out that the decision to elevate both the ministers was reversed at the last minute.