Cabinet reshuffle: Know your new ministers

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh dropped seven ministers, inducted eight and elevated three in his much-anticipated Cabinet reshuffle, the second during UPA 2.

For a government besieged by corruption scandals and scathing indictment from the country's top court on executive inaction, the Cabinet reshuffle, though not exhaustive, was an attempt at a makeover- "the last before we go to the polls," hoped the PM.

The rejig saw a few long faces and an unprecedented show of disagreement in the ranks. Here's everything you wanted to know about your new ministers.

M. Veerappa Moily: Corporate Affairs

Moodbidri Veerappa Moily, a senior leader of the Congress party who sometimes dons the role of an advisor to UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, takes charge of his new assignment - Corporate Affairs.

Mr Moily's exit from the Law Ministry came after the government found itself losing ground in the Supreme Court in several high-voltage cases including the telecom scam.

His first reaction to the Cabinet reshuffle was a bitter review of what forced his transfer from the Law Ministry. Mr Moily blamed “vested interests” for the move.

Veerappa Moily, who was also the Chief Minister of Karnataka from 1992 to 1994, is an avid writer and has authored many books besides being a regular columnist for many leading print publications.

Jairam Ramesh: Rural Development

A mechanical engineering graduate from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Mumbai and an alumnus of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Congress politician, who sports a trademark white khadi churidar and kurta, is set to bring his considerable energy and intellectual prowess to the task of rural reconstruction.

Jairam Ramesh made headlines as a crusading green minister. He now hopes to bring in his intellectual heft and training as an engineer to his new job as India's rural development minister, the ministry that was under Vilas Rao Deshmukh before him.

In over two years as environment minister, the suave 57-year-old technocrat-turned-politician transformed a low-key ministry into headline-hunter, saying no to big industrialists and multi-million dollar projects on account of their perceived impact on the environment.

With the Manmohan Singh government desperate to salvage its image as pro-aam admi, the rural development ministry is a critical job that requires a man of stature.Who is Jairam Ramesh?

Salman Khurshid: Law and Justice and additional charge of Minority Affairs

Salman Khurshid replaced Veerappa Moily as the country's new law minister.

A writer and a lawyer, Oxford-graduate Salman Khurshid has been a part of the Indian political scene since early 1980's when he began his career during the Prime Ministership of Mrs. Indira Gandhi.

In addition to Law Ministry, he also takes charge of Minority Affairs.

Soon after being sworn in, Khurshid said he was all set to sort out the standoff between the government and Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium over his resignation.

The 58-year-old Congress leader graduated from St Stephen's college, Delhi University and has been involved in writing and acting in plays since his student days in Delhi and at Oxford.

Jayanthi Natarajan: Environment and Forests

Jayanthi Natarajan, former Congress spokesperson, a lawyer by profession and a former newscaster for Doordarshan, will now handle the high-profile Environment Ministry as a Minister of State with Independent Charge.

She took over the charge from Jairam Ramesh. Certainly the most popular Congress face in Tamil Nadu, Natarajan enters the union ministry after more than a decade.

Besides getting active in environment protection activities, she likes to play veena and also loves reading books on philosophy, poetry and humour and enjoying amateur dramatics.

Who is Jayanthi Natrajan?

Dinesh Trivedi: Railways

Dinesh Trivedi, a trained pilot, will now be at the helm of affairs in the Railways Ministry, which operates the second largest railway network in the world under a single management.

The appointment comes two days after a train derailment in Uttar Pradesh that left nearly 70 people dead. The same day, a bombing on the tracks derailed another train in Assam.

Dinesh Trivedi is an articulate, suave and widely travelled politician who has, for long, been Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's point man in New Delhi.

Trinamool watchers were surprised at close Mamata confidante Mukul Roy being ignored. Mr Roy, who was Minister of State for Shipping, with additional charge of Railways in the 50-odd days since Mamata quit, went back to holding only his Shipping portfolio.

Who is Dinesh Trivedi?

Jitendra Singh: Home Affairs

The Rahul Gandhi connection was made quite visible as one of his closest aides, Congress secretary Jitendra Singh was inducted as a Minister of State for Home Affairs.

Mr Singh is a first-time MP from Rajasthan. He added a splash of colour at the Rashtrapati Bhawan during the swearing-in ceremony with his bright, traditional turban.

The 40-year-old is a trap shooter of repute, the only one among the chosen eight, who had won a national medal in sports.

Beni Prasad Verma: Steel

Beni Prasad Verma is no stranger to the Indian political scene. The heavyweight leader from UP has been elevated to Cabinet rank from Minister with Independent Charge. His ministry remains the same - Steel.

The 70-year-old politician, who has served as a union minister, was earlier a member of the Samajwadi Party.

Milind Deora: Communications and Information Technology

He has a secular image; he is savvy and modern in his outlook; Milind Deora is a typical Mumbaikar who means business. Milind Deora, a young MP from Mumbai, has been made Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology.

Making his maiden foray as a minister, of course, thanks to his father Murli Deora opting to step out, the 34-year old already has two successive Lok Sabha victories to his credit.

In the young Milind Deora, the Parliamentarians can get a taste of western music as he plays jazz guitar and his tastes range from Indian classical to the blues. Deora also loves swimming, playing squash and reading biographies.

Who is Milind Deora?

Rajeev Shukla: Parliamentary Affairs

Rajiv Shukla, as well known in the world of cricket as he is in politics, is now Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs. A law graduate, 52-year-old Shukla lists journalism as his profession.

Sudip Bandyopadhyay: Health and Family Welfare

Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay replaced party colleague Dinesh Trivedi as the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare.

The 59-year-old says he is concerned about development and renovation of river Ganga in Kolkata and that he wants give extra time to make the holy river free of pollution. He spends his leisure time reading national and international magazines and with pets.

Interestingly, he is the only lawmaker in the current bunch to perform in the Central Hall of Parliament. He sang Rabindra Sangeet on the occasion of Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary in 1998.

V. Kishore Chandra Deo : Tribal Affairs and Panchayati Raj

Andhra Pradesh leader V Kishore Chandra Deo has been made Cabinet Minister for Tribal Affairs and Panchayati Raj, an important assignment in a Congress government.

His appointment comes at a time that the Congress needs to consolidate in Andhra Pradesh, confronting as it is a new crisis with many of its leaders resigning over the demand for a new Telangana state.

The 64-year-old leader comes from a Scheduled Tribe community Konda Dora and a family of tribal hill chiefs. Suave and soft-spoken, Deo's favourite pastimes include walking, cooking, astrology and music.

A post graduate in political science, he is the only author among the 'chosen eight'.

Who is V. Kishore Chandra Deo?

Vilasrao Deshmukh : Science and Technology and Earth Sciences

Vilas Rao Deshmukh, who was shifted from Rural Development to the Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Ministry, was another name in the list of ministers who were not-so-happy with the reshuffle.

The two-time Maharashtra Chief Minister enjoys reading, classical music and table tennis, but off late his interest in cricket is what is making the headlines.

The 66-year-old politician skipped the swearing-in ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan to lobby for the post of president of the Mumbai Cricket Association.

Gurudas Kamat: Drinking Water and Sanitation

Congress leader Gurudas Kamat who was earlier the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Minister of State in the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology was assigned to independent charge of Drinking Water and Sanitation.

He, however, chose to skip the pomp and ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan because he was allegedly upset about not being given Cabinet rank.

He later resigned from his post, or was sacked, depending on who one speaks to.

Mukul Roy: Shipping

Trinamool Congress MP Mukul Roy, was not only denied a Cabinet rank but also shunted out as Minister of State for Railways.

Mukul Roy now only retains the Shipping portfolio as a junior minister. He proved controversial after failing to visit the sites of Sunday's two big train disasters - in Uttar Pradesh and Assam - in defiance of Manmohan Singh's directive.

Mr Roy is also not believed to be on the best of terms with his Trinamool colleague Dinesh Trivedi, who has become the new Railway Minister.

Srikant Jena: Statistics and Programme Implementation and Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers

Srikanth Jena, Congress leader from Orissa, was upset about not being given Cabinet rank. Like Gurudas Kamat, he too, skipped the swearing-in ceremony.

Mr Jena has been made Minister of State with Independent Charge of Statistics and Programme Implementation. He weathered the pro-BJD wave in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections to win the Balasore Lok Sabha constituency; he was among six Congress leaders from the state to be elected to Parliament.

Charan Das Mahant: Agriculture and Food Processing Industries

Charan Das Mahant, the Congress leader from Andhra Pradesh, is the new Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries.

Mahant is in fact, one of the most educated of the newly appointed ministers with his profile reading 'MSc, MA, LLB, PhD'. The Korba (Chhattisgarh) MP, says he enoys gossiping with family, music, debates, and travelling.

He also holds an avid interest in Kabir's poetry and had organised several poetry sessions besides holding talks and exhibitions on painting and art.

He had drafted action plan for the upliftment of tribals and encouraged folk-art, drama and songs.

Paban Singh Ghatowar: Development of North Eastern Region

Congress MP from Dibrugarh, Paban Singh Ghatowar, is the Minister of State with Independent Charge of Development of the North Eastern Region.

The 61-year-old organised and participated in educational, cultural and social welfare activities of tribes and communities and is engaged in tea plantation and rural population.

Pawan Kumar Bansal: Parliamentary Affairs and additional charge of Water Resources

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal was also given the additional charge of Water Resources.

Anand Sharma: Commerce and Industry; and additional charge of Textiles

Anand Sharma, who is the Minister for Commerce and Industry, was given the additional charge of Textiles during the Cabinet reshuffle.