New Delhi, Sep 21: Stage is all set for an imminent Union cabinet reshuffle next week in the wake of Mamata Banerjee's decision to withdraw support from the UPA government, according to reliable sources.
In all likelihood, Jairam Ramesh will be the next Railway Minister, sources said.
Jairam Ramesh will be the first Railway Minister from Congress party after 1995. Suresh Kalmadi was the Railway Minister at that time.
There is a possibility of greater responsibility passing on to the shoulders of young faces like Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sachin Pilot whose positions are likely to be upgraded in the cabinet reshuffle.
Deepa Dasmunshi, wife of Priyaranjan Das Muunshi, is also likely to be inducted in the cabinet for the first time.
Meenakshi Natarajan, a close associate of Rahul Gandhi and former NSUI leader, is also likely to make her debut in the cabinet.
Actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi is also likely to be made a minister, because of the Andhra Pradesh political compulsions.
There is a possibility of Tariq Anwar replacing Agatha Sangma from NCP quota in cabinet.
However, the big four ministers - Defence Minister AK Antony, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and External Affairs Minister SM Krishna are likely to continue in their respective ministries.
K Rehman Khan, former Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson, is likely to get the Minority Affairs portfolio.
Minister of State for Planning, Science and Technology and Earth sciences Ashwani Kumar is also likely to be upgraded.
A late evening report said, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna may be replaced in the cabinet reshuffle.
Maharashtra chief minsiter Prithviraj Chavan will continue in his post, and S Jaipal Reddy will be moved to AP, only when a new Telangana state is formed, sources said.
Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay may face the axe because of the coal allocation scam, but Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal may be shunted out to some other portfolio.
Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma will continue in the cabinet, sources said.
Kapil Sibal and Salman Khursheed may shed one portfolio each in the reshuffle, according to sources.
Among other contenders for cabinet posts are Janradan Dwivedi, Renuka Chaudhary and Manish Tewari, all presently in AICC.
Last, but not the least, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi may not join the cabinet this time too.
