Cabinet reshuffle: With 11 ministers, Andhra Pradesh takes the cake

NEW DELHI: With 11 ministers, Andhra Pradesh takes the cake in the reshuffle of the Union Cabinet as it overtook Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan in its strength in the government.

In fact, there are not only five additions from the southern state but one minister has been elevated to Cabinet rank, among the total of 22 inductions and promotions made today.

Andhra Pradesh, which has witnessed turmoil over the Telangana issue and the emergence of YSR Congress, now also boasts of having the largest number of Cabinet ministers -- four. It is the only major state where Congress is in power on the basis of its own strength. With Congress performing laudably during polls, the state has contributed significantly towards UPA coming to power in 2004 and 2009.

While Tamil Nadu and Kerala have eight representatives in the Council of Ministers including those of DMK, Maharashtra follows suit with seven, including those of NCP.

Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Rajasthan have six ministers each at the central level.

In today's reshuffle, West Bengal saw induction of the second highest number of MPs in the Council of Ministers with three new faces, in an apparent move to take on Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress which parted ways with UPA over two months ago.

Two members each from party-ruled Kerala and Rajasthan also found place in the Union Council of Ministers. One each has been inducted or elevated from Uttarakhand, Delhi, Assam, Gujarat and Karnataka.

While former Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju was elevated to Cabinet rank and given the HRD portfolio, K Chiranjeevi, who helped Congress by merging his 18-member PRP with the party, has became MoS (Independent Charge).