Last reshuffle before 2014 LS polls : PM

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hs said this reshuffle of the Union Cabinet would be the last before the next Lok Sabha elections in 2014.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the swearing-in ceremony of the new Ministers at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Dr Singh said he hoped that the cabinet reshuffle “is the last before we go to the polls”. The Prime Minister said two seats in the new Cabinet had been left for its ally DMK. He said accommodating DMK was the UPA’s ‘coalition dharma.’ DMK is not part of this reshuffle and the party said they would take a decision after their meeting.The Prime Minister hoped that the DMK decision on joining the Cabinet would be coming soon.The Prime Minister told reporters on the sidelines of the swearing-in ceremony of the new Ministers at Rashtrapati Bhavan that this would be the last reshuffle before the next Lok Sabha elections in 2014.DMK is not part of this reshuffle and the Party said they would take a decision after their meeting.The Prime Minister hoped that the DMK decision on joining the Cabinet would be coming soon.The Prime Minister said Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi had been invited to join the government but he had said he preferred to work for the party. He (Rahul Gandhi) had expressed inability as he had undertaken other responsibilities.  Rahul wanted to understand farmers’ problems and he had undertaken padyatra for that purpose. On a question on why the latest reshuffle was not a comprehensive exercise, Dr Singh said it was as comprehensive as it could be.The PM described his new cabinet as “a balance between state representation, efficiency of ministers and continuity.” The Cabinet rejig which took place at Rashtrapati Bhavan this evening, saw several new Ministers in the Union Cabinet, some elevated and shifted to new Ministries and some dropped from the Cabinet.DMK member and former Textile Minister Dayanidhi Maran who resigned a few days ago after the CBI indicted him in the 2G Spectrum scam, was dropped from the new Ministry. No Minister has been appointed in place of Mr Maran and Mr Anand Sharma has been given the additional charge of Textiles. Asked why was Environment Ministry taken away from Jairam Ramesh, the Prime Minister said he had been given additional responsibilities, extensive esponsibilities.Rural Development Ministry is a big Ministry and the nodal agency for various welfare scheme of the government. However, each time there was a reshuffle, they had to balance many things, including continuity.