PM calls meeting of Union Cabinet

New Delhi, May 23 (PTI) A day after being sworn in as
Indian Prime Minister for a second term, Manmohan Singh called
a meeting of the Union Cabinet Saturday morning.


Though the meeting is being described as a customary
one, sources said it is likely to take a decision on convening
a Parliament session to enable new members to take oath.

President Prabtiba Patil will be addressing a joint
sitting of both the houses during the session.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister visited Mahatma
Gandhi's memorials besides those of other departed leaders and
placed a wreath on them.

Singh was Friday sworn-in as Prime Minister for a
second term along with 19 other Cabinet ministers including
new entrants S M Krishna and Mamata Banerjee.

The 76-year-old economist-politician was sworn in along
with senior members of his previous team, Pranab Mukherjee, P
Chidambaram, Sharad Pawar and A K Antony.

The 19 ministers, all of Cabinet rank, include Ghulam
Nabi Azad, Veerappa Moily, new entrant Rajasthan PCC chief C P
Joshi and Anand Sharma and B K Handique, who were promoted
from the previous ministry.

Others inducted were S Jaipal Reddy, Kamal Nath,
Vayalar Ravi, Meira Kumar, Murli Deora, Kapil Sibal, Ambika
Soni and Sushil Kumar Shinde.


Failure of negotiations with southern ally, DMK, over
the number of slots and portfolios resulted in only 19
ministers taking oath from the President. Another group of
ministers, probably a larger one, is expected to be sworn-in
on Tuesday next.


The portfolios of the ministers would be announced in
the next two or three days, according to the Prime Minister
who voiced the hope that DMK would accept the offer made to it
by the UPA. PTI