PM may reshuffle cabinet in next 48 hours: Sources

Prime minister Manmohan Singh may reshuffle his cabinet within the next 48 hours, reports CNBC-TV18. 

Speculation on this front is growing, since the prime minister met president Pratibha Patil earlier this evening. He has already met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi five times over the last week.

So what changes can one expect? Sources suggest that the telecom portfolio is likely to remain with the Congress with Kapil Sibal being divested of the HRD portfolio to allow him to concentrate on his new charge of telecom. Jyotiradiya Scindia may be named the minister-of-state, External Affairs, and Salman Khurshid could be upgraded.

Sources add that the Trinamool Congress could get one more minister-of-state portfolio.

Meanwhile, speculation is still rife over whether Sharad Pawar will give up food and consumer affairs and whether civil aviation minister Praful Patel will get elevated.

After A Raja's exit, there is also the possibility that  TR Baalu or TKS Elangovan could get a cabinet berth.

Experts suggest that non-performers like CP Joshi and Veerbhadra Singh could be on their way out.