SM Krishna is new external affairs minister

23 May 2009

SM Krishna, former governor of Maharashtra, will handle the external affairs portfolio in the new Manmohan Singh ministry while Pranab Mukherjee, who handled the additional portfolio of finance towards the fag end of the previous ministry's term, will continue to hold the portfolio in the new ministry as well.

Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee will replace Laloo Prasad as the new railway minister.

P Chidambaram, who handled the home ministry after the exit of Shivraj Patil from the previous ministry will continue to hold charge of the ministry.  AK Antony will continue as the defence minister.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar has also retained the agriculture, food and civil supplies, consumer affairs and public distribution  portfolio.

The prime minister will hold the charge of all the other ministries till finalisation of seat-sharing at the UPA level, it is learnt.