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Home > News > India News > Article > Buzz faces winners and losers

Buzz, faces, winners and losers

Updated on: 29 October,2012 06:51 AM IST  | 
Agencies |

Yesterday's revision was a spirited rejig by the beleaguered PM to infuse a dash of youth in his largely grey-haired team, a defining makeover that will shape poll fortunes of the ruling coalition

Buzz, faces, winners and losers

The buzz of excitement and anticipation was more than palpable in the chandeliered Ashoka Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan as ministers, officials and special invitees started pouring in around 11 am. Since most of them were not in the know of things, the guessing game went on as to who was in and who was out, with the insatiably curious media collaring every politician who could give the slightest clue.


The faces and the eyes, the mirror of the soul’s secrets, however, told their own story. Anand Sharma, who was widely touted as the next external affairs minister, looked unusually subdued and downcast. Salman Khurshid looked confident and casual.



The Lucky 22: The new ministers wait for President Pranab Mukherjee at the Ashoka Hall before they take oath during the swearing-in ceremony. Recharged after Durga Puja, the president was a picture of poise and grace as 22 ministers took oath in different languages. PIc/AFP


The youth brigade was more than animated. Sachin Pilot, one of the youngest ministers, blithely said, “Mangal hai (all is well)”, indicating that he was up for an upgrade. In the end, he got independent charge as minister of state for corporate affairs.

In the sea of faces, Shashi Tharoor, MP from Thiruvananthapuram who had to resign two years ago due to a controversy involving the IPL cricket, stood out with his calibrated exuberance and energy. His wife Sunanda beamed, leaving not much to imagination.

Manish Tewari, the suave spokesperson of the Congress party, sported a confident smile and walked in with his wife.u00a0When Congress chief Sonia Gandhi entered the hall with her son and party general secretary Rahul, the speculated prime minister-in-waiting, the assembled ministers stood at attention, making it clear who was in charge.

In the end, the ceremonies played out by the clock, with the bugle announcing the arrival of President Pranab Mukherjee, followed by a rendition of the national anthem.

For “Pranab babu”, as the president is fondly called, it was a special moment. He has taken oath as minister in the same hall many a time, and now it was his turn to swear-in the new members of the council of ministers. Recharged after the Durga Puja, the president was a picture of poise and grace as 22 ministers took oath in different languages.

Manmohan Singh, who was till recently excoriated as a failure and a tragic figure, exuded the energy of the second generation of economic reforms he launched recently. He smiled and looked relaxed. “It’s a blend of youth and experience,” he said later.u00a0The winners had a lot to celebrate, and the losers will now have to bet on the the 2014 poll roulette.

Who’s who
>> Salman Khurshid: External affairs
>>u00a0Jairam Ramesh: Rural development
>> Ajay Maken: Housing and urban poverty alleviation
>>u00a0Veerappa Moily: Petroleum and natural gas
>>u00a0Jaipal Reddy: Science and technology and earth sciences
>> Kamal Nath: Urban development and parliamentary affairs
>>u00a0Vayalar Ravi: Overseas Indian affairs
>> Kapil Sibal: IT and communications
>>u00a0CP Joshi: Road transport and highways
>> Kumari Selja: Social justice and empowerment
>> Ashwani Kumar: Law and justice
>>u00a0Harish Rawat: Water resources
>>u00a0Chandresh Kumari Katoch: Culture
>> Pawan Kumar Bansal: Railways
>>u00a0K Rahman Khan: Minority affairs
>>u00a0Dinsha Patel: Mines
>>u00a0MM Pallam Raju: Human resource development

Ministers of state

>> Jitin Prasada: Defence and HRD
>> Manish Tewari: I&B (independent charge)
>>u00a0Sachin Pilot: Corporate affairs (ind charge)
>>u00a0Jitendra Singh: Youth affairs and sports (ind charge)
>>u00a0Shashi Tharoor: HRD
>>u00a0Chiranjeevi: Tourism (ind charge)
>>u00a0Jyotiraditya Scindia: Power (ind charge)
>>u00a0Tariq Anwar: Agriculture and food processing industries
>>u00a0Surya Prakash Reddy: Railways
>>u00a0Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury: Railways
>>u00a0RPN Singh: Home
>>u00a0KC Venugopal: Civil aviation
>>u00a0Rajeev Shukla: Parliamentary affairs and planning
>>u00a0KH Muniappa: Micro, small and medium enterprises (ind charge)
>>u00a0Ranee Narah: Tribal affairs
>>u00a0Bharatsinh Solanki: Drinking water and sanitation (ind charge)
>>u00a0Kodikunnil Suresh: Labour and employment
>>u00a0AH Khan Choudhury: Health and family welfare
>>u00a0Sarve Satyanarayana: Road transport and highways
>>u00a0Ninong Ering: Minority affairs
>>u00a0Deepa Dasmunsi: Urban development
>>u00a0Porika Balram Naik: Social justice and empowerment
>>u00a0Killi Kruparani: IT and communications w Lalchand Kataria: Defence
>>u00a0E Ahamed: External affairs
>>u00a0D Purandeswari: Commerce and industry
>>u00a0S Jagathrakshakan: New and renewable energy

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