MP Antony brushes aside 145;berth rumour146;

Following a rather quiet swearing-in as Rajya Sabha member, former Kerala Chief Minister and senior Congress leader A.K. Antony today brushed aside as 8216;8216;mere rumour8217;8217; speculation that he was to be inducted into Manmohan Singh8217;s Cabinet.

8216;8216;I8217;m here in the Rajya Sabha in Delhi to raise the issues relating to my state and getting maximum Central help for my state,8217;8217; Antony said. 8216;8216;It his Cabinet induction is all a rumour. I8217;m going back to Kerala tomorrow.8217;8217;

Antony, who was replaced as Kerala Chief Minister by Oommen Chandy last year, returned to the Rajya Sabha after a gap of 10 years. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in a by-election caused by the resignation of K. Karunakaran in May. His term will continue till May 2010. This is the third term for Antony in the Rajya Sabha, having served earlier from 1985-91 and 1991-95.