Singh introduces new faces in Cabinet

New Delhi: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh retained the foreign affairs portfolio in a ministerial reshuffle yesterday that added almost 20 new faces to his team, largely aimed at bolstering regional support before state polls.

"We have taken into consideration regional factors. We have given due consideration to the states," Singh said at the swearing in for the new ministers at the presidential palace.

"We have also brought in new talent."

Singh's retention of foreign affairs is seen as preparation for a March visit by US President George W. Bush.

President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam swore in 10 Cabinet ministers including three junior ministers being promoted and a dozen new junior ministers.

One of the biggest changes is to the oil ministry, where Murli Deora takes over from Mani Shankar Aiyar, who had sometimes been seen as at odds with the foreign ministry on issues such as pipelines to Iran.

"The Cabinet reshuffle has been done with the aim of removing regional disparities in the present team and keeping in mind the states which are going to the polls later this year," analyst Mahesh Rangarajan said.

A Cabinet post for minority affairs has been created, filled by A.R. Antulay, a move analysts say is aimed at shoring up support for the Congress-led coalition government, especially the key states of West Bengal and Kerala, which have large Muslim communities.

They are among five states due for elections this year.

"It's aimed at a revival of Congress fortunes in north India, where minorities, especially Muslims, form an important vote bank," Rangarajan said.

While Kerala strongman Vayalar Ravi was sworn in as Overseas Indian Affairs Minister with Cabinet rank, Saiffuddin Soz has sworn in as the Water Resource Minister.

Several ministers have been replaced by the new team. Some of the new appointees replace Cabinet ministers in key areas including coal, water resources, heavy industry and public enterprise, power and company affairs.

Ambika Soni, a Congress leader close to party president Sonia Gandhi, takes over the Cabinet post of tourism from Renuka Chowdhury.

Chowdhury has been moved out and given the portfolio of women and child affairs.

Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal and his portfolio have been elevated to Cabinet rank.

Santosh Mohan Dev, who heads the Heavy Industries Ministry and Premchand Gupta who is heading the Ministry of Company Affairs have been elevated to full Cabinet rank.

New junior ministers for foreign affairs, defence and finance have been appointed and G.K. Vasan, TNCC President and son of late Congress veteran G.K. Moopanar is sworn in as Minister of State with independent charge of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

Oscar Fernandes is sworn in as Minister of State with independent charge, but his portfolio has not been allocated.

While Pawan Kumar Bansal is the new Minister of State for Finance, Ajay Makan became the new Minister of State for Urban Development.

Ashwini Kumar has been inducted as Minister of State for Industries. Dr Akhilesh Das has not been allotted a portfolio yet.

Other new faces include Pallam Raju as Minister of State for Defence, Purandareswari, HRD, Rao Inderjeet Singh, Defence, Chandra Shekhar Sahu, Labour and Elangovan, Textile.