NEW DELHI, June 27 � The much-talked about expansion-cum-reshuffle of the Union Council of Ministers could be held this week or after July 8, reports PTI.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi have held extensive talks on the issue after her return from abroad last fortnight.
Sources said there was, however, no meeting between Gandhi and Singh over the issue yesterday.
They, however, said the reshuffle could take place either on July 1 or July 2 and if it could not take place then due to some reasons, the same could take place after President Pratibha Patil�s return from her Southern sojourn on July 8.
While the Prime Minister had sometime back himself spoken of a �more expansive� exercise, it is still unclear whether it would affect the four top ministries � Finance, Home, Defence and External Affairs. There was speculation about the continuance of External Affairs Minister S M Krishna in the ministry.
Ministers like Kapil Sibal are holding more than one portfolio. While there are some vacancies including that created by the resignation of A Raja in the wake of the 2G spectrum scam and Prithviraj Chavan, who became Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
The talk is that the DMK could utilise the opportunity to drop beleaguered Textile Minister Dayanidhi Maran.
There are also talks of elevation of some of the ministers including Beni Prasad Verma of Uttar Pradesh. The key Hindi state goes to elections next year. Verma who is currently Minister of State (Independent charge) could get a cabinet rank. He had been a Cabinet minister in the United Front government.
