Montek as FM? That's Manmohan's choice

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posted on 15 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Congress will not give any key portfolio to its allies.

New Delhi: While Manmohan Singh will continue to be the Prime Minister of the next Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA), the race for other berths in the Cabinet has begun.

Congress sources say Manmohan wants deputy chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia as the next Union Finance Minister.

If Ahluwalia is made the Union Finance Minister, he will have to make his entry into the Cabinet through the Rajya Sabha, the same as the Prime Minister.

Party leaders have been insisting the UPA does not need the support of any new big allies and the Congress is also likely to keep key portfolios with it.

There is also a demand from within the party to bring Rahul Gandhi into the Cabinet. Rahul has been credited for the party's success particularly in Uttar Pradesh.

Rahul is likely to be included as the Rural Development Minister in the Cabinet, sources revealed.

Sources have also told CNN-IBN that the new Cabinet will include several young MPs.

The other young MPs apart from Rahul who are likely to be inducted into the Cabinet include Sachin Pilot, Jitin Prasada, and Sandeep Dikshit.

Major pre-poll allies such as the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK), the Trinamool Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) also are expecting ministerial berths.

Sources say Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is eyeing the Railways portfolio which was earlier with Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad.

Sonia has already called up old allies including Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad, who is likely to be retained in the Union Government. Sonia reportedly asked Lalu to attend Cabinet meeting.

Reports say External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is likely to be shifted to the Finance Ministry, which the Manmohan Singh has been handling so far. Commerce Minister Kamal Nath is likely to be shifted to the External Affairs Ministry.

Home Minister P Chidambaram and Defence Minister A K Antony are likely to continue in their posts. Kapil Sibal is likely to get the Commerce Ministry.