PM stays neutral on issue of cabinet reshuffle

ON AIR INDIA ONE - The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Saturday, opted to maintain a non-committal and neutral stance on the issue of when he would reshuffle his cabinet.

Interacting with media persons accompanying him a three-nation visit to Japan, Malaysia and Vietnam, on a wide range of subjects, onboard his special aircraft, Dr. Singh said all would know when it would take place.

“When it takes place, you will get to know,” he said.

It may be recalled that last month, Dr. Singh had said he would consider a cabinet reshuffle before the winter session of Parliament due to begin on November 7.

Talking to a group of editors at his residence then, Dr. Singh made it clear that he was not thinking of retiring and indicated that he would look at options of a cabinet reshuffle.

“I would also like to reduce the average age of my cabinet,” he added.

However, he said that it was necessary for the cabinet and the government to function with a certain degree of cohesion, and added that his cabinet had functioned with a much greater degree of cohesion than even the first cabinet headed by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

On the recent differences expressed publicly between senior members of the Congress, he said he would give no guarantees about shutting up “every colleague in my cabinet.”

He also said that he was not aware of any disconnect between the Congress party and the government By Naveen Kapoor (ANI)