New Delhi:
The much-anticipated cabinet reshuffle is likely to take place on Monday, say sources.
Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee is likely to meet DMK chief M Karunanidhi in Chennai today to discuss the new Cabinet.
There is, however, no confirmation on whether this will a major re-vamp or a relatively non-controversial rearrangement for a government that is under siege over charges of corruption.
(Watch: New faces in the cabinet soon?)The latest casualty was
Dayanidhi Maran of the DMK who was forced to exit as Union Textiles Minister yesterday. He has been accused of misusing his public office when he was Telecom Minister. A Raja, also of the DMK, succeeded Mr Maran as Telecom Minister in 2007 and is now in jail.
The DMK says it has not asked for replacements for Mr Maran or Mr Raja so far. "We have not decided on replacement to Dayanidhi Maran," said senior DMK leader TR Baalu in Chennai, after Mr Maran met Mr Karunanidhi.
(Read: DMK undecided on Maran's replacement)
As a senior coalition partner in the UPA, the DMK has been at odds with the Congress in recent months. Mr Karunanidhi is upset over the arrest of his daughter, Kanimozhi, who is in jail along with Mr Raja for allegedly accepting a bribe along with him from a company that won undue favours when Mr Raja allotted mobile network licenses and spectrum in 2008.
In addition to dropping under-performing ministers, the PM also has to announce the new Railways Minister. Mamata Banerjee resigned from that post after she was elected West Bengal Chief Minister. She is expecting the Prime Minister to keep the Railways portfolio for her party, the Trinamool Congress.
At a meeting with editors a few weeks ago, Dr Singh had refused to share details of the reshuffle, describing it only as "a work in progress".
(Watch: Will a new look Cabinet help the UPA's image problem?)