Prime Minister announces key cabinet posts
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh distributed key cabinet portfolios on Saturday after the Congress party's resounding victory in national elections.
By Agencies |
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh distributed key cabinet portfolios on Saturday after the Congress party's resounding victory in national elections.
Singh named outgoing foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee, 73, regarded as one of India's canniest politicians, to the finance ministry to steer the revival of the economy which has slowed as a result of the global financial crisis.
Singh brought in a new face to the cabinet as external affairs minister - Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna, 77, a former chief minister of southern Karnataka state and party veteran to guide India's foreign policy during a period of heightened tensions with neighbouring Pakistan.
Palaniappan Chidambaram, seen as having overhauled India's security in the wake of the Islamist attacks on Mumbai last November that left 166 dead, will continue to head the home ministry, a government statement said.
A.K. Anthony will retain charge of the defence ministry.
Sharad Pawar will keep the agricultural ministry while Mamata Banerjee will serve as railway minister.
Both Pawar and Banerjee are key regional allies in the Congress-led coalition which won 262 seats in the 543-member national parliament, just 10 short of the 272 needed for a working majority.
Singh, a 76-year-old, soft-spoken economist, is the first prime minister since the country's post-independence leader Jawaharlal Nehru to be returned to office after completing a full term.
"Portfolios of other ministers will be announced later," a government spokesman said without elaborating.
Singh named outgoing foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee, 73, regarded as one of India's canniest politicians, to the finance ministry to steer the revival of the economy which has slowed as a result of the global financial crisis.
Singh brought in a new face to the cabinet as external affairs minister - Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna, 77, a former chief minister of southern Karnataka state and party veteran to guide India's foreign policy during a period of heightened tensions with neighbouring Pakistan.
Palaniappan Chidambaram, seen as having overhauled India's security in the wake of the Islamist attacks on Mumbai last November that left 166 dead, will continue to head the home ministry, a government statement said.
A.K. Anthony will retain charge of the defence ministry.
Sharad Pawar will keep the agricultural ministry while Mamata Banerjee will serve as railway minister.
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Both Pawar and Banerjee are key regional allies in the Congress-led coalition which won 262 seats in the 543-member national parliament, just 10 short of the 272 needed for a working majority.
Singh, a 76-year-old, soft-spoken economist, is the first prime minister since the country's post-independence leader Jawaharlal Nehru to be returned to office after completing a full term.
"Portfolios of other ministers will be announced later," a government spokesman said without elaborating.
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