Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] is likely to go in for the much-talked about expansion-cum-reshuffle of the Union Council of Ministers this week, well in time ahead of the winter session of Parliament beginning on November 23.Talk is gaining ground in political circles that the Prime Minister, known for his cautious ways, could proceed with the exercise anytime after the period of national mourning for late President K R Narayanan gets over on November 15.
Sources say that since there are over half a dozen vacancies in the Ministry, it was high time for such an exercise, which was deferred repeatedly for one reason or the other in the last few months.
Names of All India Congress Committee General Secretary Ambika Soni, former Kerala [Images] Chief Minister A K Antony or senior leader Vayalar Ravi, former Orissa Chief Minsiter Giridhar Gamang or Chandrasekhar Sahu, G K Vasan from Tamil Nadu, Suresh Kalmadi and Gurudas Kamat from Maharashtra are doing the rounds.
A Muslim member from Assam is also expected to get a ministerial berth with A F Golam Osmani's name figuring in political circles in view of Assembly polls. Union Minister Sontosh Mohan Dev, who hails from Assam, could be elevated to cabinet status as also Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal.
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