Reshuffle imminent prior to PM’s US visit

Another south Indian BJP leader, O. Rajagopal, who as Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs does not have much work at hand, may replace Bangaru.

Sources close to the PM told The Indian Express that Vajpayee was thinking of inducting senior leader Sushma Swaraj in the Cabinet handing her over the Information and Broadcasting portfolio, so far held by Minister of State (independent charge) Arun Jaitley, who also heads the Law Ministry.

But Sushma’s strident criticism of Government’s economic and internal security (Kashmir) policies yesterday, may make him think again, they claim.

Vajpayee is learnt to have held deliberations with Home Minister L.K. Advani and External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh two days ago on Cabinet reshuffle. But with Sushma Swaraj upsetting his plans, Vajpayee may even put the reshuffle on hold till he returns from US, sources claimed.