Thursday, July 14 2005 11:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: A reshuffle-cum-expansion of the Union Council of Ministers is expected shortly which may witness the induction of Jharkand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Chief Shibu Soren, former (AICC) All India Congress Committee General Secretary Vayalar Ravi and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Chiefs of Tamil Nadu G K Vasan and Uttaranchal Harish Rawat.

The exercise, before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh leaves on a weeklong visit to U S on Saturday (July 16, 2005), was expected to be a minor affair amid indications that a major one could be carried out after the Monsoon session of Parliament.

There was a possibility the exercise could take place today (July 14, 2005) or Friday (July 15, 2005).

Some Ministers are also likely to face the axe while some others are expected to be shifted in the exercise that would mostly be restricted to Congress ministers.

The names of AICC General Secretary Ambika Soni, party spokesman Anand Sharma and Mumbai Congress Chief Gurudas Kamat are also doing the rounds in political circles for induction as ministers.

Soni has already gone on record to say that unlike last time when she had declared that she would work for the organisation, this time she would abide by what Party Chief Sonia Gandhi would decide.

The names of party MP from Andhra Pradesh Purandeshwari also figured in the speculation.

There has been speculation over Cabinet reshuffle for quite sometime now but had failed to materialise for one reason or other.

Recently, the Prime Minister while returning from the G-8 Summit had indicated the possibility of a Cabinet reshuffle. His meeting with United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi two days back had further fuelled the talk.