PM keeps finance portfolio, meets advisors
27 Jun 2012
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is back as finance minister, at least for the present, and has already set out on the exercise of putting together loose ends of the PMO and the finance ministry.
The prime minister has met his top advisors as part of the exercise and it is widely expected that he will strengthen his advisory group and appoint an additional minister of state in the finance ministry.
Rumours also have it that he may bring Dr C Rangarajan into the Prime Minister's Office as minister without a portfolio.
Considering his age and health and the current economic situation, it is unlikely that the prime minister would keep all responsibilities to himself.
It is expected that the new appointee, probably from among the trusted managers, would take charge of day-to-day affairs of the ministry. He, along with the present incumbent, would also be answerable to the Parliament at the question hour.
Meanwhile, reports have pointed to the possibility of a new face in the finance ministry - either Jairam Ramesh or Anand Sharma - while some reports suggest that P Chidambaram may get back his old portfolio, though his legal woes may prove an obstacle.
