Maran’s resignation clears way for cabinet reshuffle

The resignation of Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran Thursday has made easy the job of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is planning a cabinet reshuffle soon, Congress sources said.

Sources said with Corporate Affairs Minister Murli Deora also offering to quit, two controversial ministers are out of the cabinet.

‘The prime minister has got two controversial ministers out. Otherwise the opposition would have disrupted the monsoon session baying for their blood,’ a Congress leader, who preferred to be anonymous, told IANS.

Deora, who is facing allegations of irregularities during his earlier tenure as petroleum minister, told media Wednesday that he had offered his resignation to the Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Deora cited ‘health and personal problems’ for his resignation.

Several vacancies have arisen in the cabinet in the past few months.

Communications minister A. Raja resigned Nov 14 last year following allegations of involvement in the 2G scam.

Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Prithviraj Chavan quit to take over as the chief minister of Maharashtra.

There are speculations that several other ministers viewed as non-performers will be dropped in the reshuffle, likely within a week.