Cabinet reshuffle: Mamata rivals may get berths

In what may be a big snub to its former ally Mamata Banerjee, the Congress is likely to induct 15 new ministers into its Cabinet, a few of whom are her political rivals. In the Cabinet reshuffle that is likely to take place on Tuesday, the Congress may give posts to Pradip Bhattacharya and Adhir Choudhury, both of whom are Mamata's political rivals in West Bengal.

Among other names being considered for Cabinet berths are those of Telugu actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) member Tariq Anwar and Congress leaders Gurudas Kamat, Vilas Baburao Muttemwar and Shashi Tharoor.

While Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi's entry into the Cabinet seems highly unlikely, his key aide Meenakshi Natarajan and party spokesperson Manish Tewari may be considered, say sources.

The ones being considered

- Tariq Anwar to replace Agatha Sangma from the NCP quota

- WBC President Pradip Bhattacharya and Adhir Choudhury

- Gurudas Kamat and Vilas Baburao Muttemwar to be inducted from Maharashtra

- Shashi Tharoor is likely to make a comeback

- Telugu actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi

- Rahul Gandhi's key aide Meenakshi Natrajan

- Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari may also be considered

Those likely to be dropped

- Subodh Kant Sahai for his alleged involvement in the coal scam

- Agatha Sangma, since her father PA Sangma quit the NCP to join hands with NDA during the Presidential polls

- There is a question mark over continuation of Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal too, since his alleged links to coal scam have surfaced

- Mukul Wasnik is also likely to be on his way out

- Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma may also be removed for poor performance in the UP Assembly polls

Divestment likely

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has reportedly said that the ministers holding dual portfolios should be divested of one of those portfolios.

If action is taken along those lines, the following ministers may lose either or any one of their portfolios:

Kapil Sibal: HRD, Telecom

Veerapa Moily: Power, Corporate Affairs

Salman Khurshid: Law & Justice, Minority Affairs

Anand Sharma: Commerce, Textiles

Vayalar Ravi: Overseas Affairs, Science and Technology, Micro small and Medium enterprises

Pawan Bansal: Parliamentary Affairs, Water Resources

CP Joshi: Railways, Road Transport and Highways