New Delhi: The Union Cabinet reshuffle this weekend is expected to be a "minor" affair mostly involving accommodation of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) allies including Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee.

With BJP keen on retaining the crucial Rural Development Ministry with an eye on the coming Assembly polls, Banerjee is likely to be get Coal replacing BJP man Karia Munda, party sources said on May 21.

Munda is expected to get Rural Development Ministry, they said, adding another Trinamool leader Sudip Bandhopadyaya may also be accommodated as a Minister of State.

BJP leaders have virtually ruled out tinkering with the portfolios held by senior ministers including Arun Jaitley, Arun Shourie and Sushma Swaraj besides Lok Dal leader and Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh.

Party leaders also deny speculation about the possibility of the axe falling on Civil Aviation Minister Shahnawaz Hussain.

Not only is Hussain considered close to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee but is also the sole Muslim face in the Cabinet, they say.

The sources indicated the possibility of Shiv Sena leader and Heavy Industries Minister Balasaheb Vikhe Patil being replaced by party colleague Satish Pradhan besides induction of another Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) nominee as a Minister of State.

Meanwhile, BJP President M Venkaiah Naidu is expected to meet Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani on May 22 to "finalise" the reshuffle exercise.

PTI