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India Reshuffles Cabinet, as Chance of Early Elections Grows India Reshuffles Cabinet, as Chance of Early Elections Grows
(about 2 hours later)
NEW DELHI — India’s governing coalition announced a reshuffled cabinet Sunday in yet another effort to shake off nearly a year of paralysis and prepare for elections that may come sooner than their scheduled date in 2014.NEW DELHI — India’s governing coalition announced a reshuffled cabinet Sunday in yet another effort to shake off nearly a year of paralysis and prepare for elections that may come sooner than their scheduled date in 2014.
The appointments also suggested that the governing United Progressive Alliance will continue to confront charges of corruption and nepotism that have embroiled some of its most prominent members in controversy. The government’s new foreign minister, for example, is Salman Khurshid, who has been accused along with his wife of diverting funds from a charity for disabled persons. Mr. Khurshid has angrily denied the charges.The appointments also suggested that the governing United Progressive Alliance will continue to confront charges of corruption and nepotism that have embroiled some of its most prominent members in controversy. The government’s new foreign minister, for example, is Salman Khurshid, who has been accused along with his wife of diverting funds from a charity for disabled persons. Mr. Khurshid has angrily denied the charges.
Wealthy and urbane, Mr. Khurshid is a Muslim, which could prove helpful in India’s efforts to improve relations with neighboring Pakistan. Until recently, Mr. Khurshid was the government’s law minister.Wealthy and urbane, Mr. Khurshid is a Muslim, which could prove helpful in India’s efforts to improve relations with neighboring Pakistan. Until recently, Mr. Khurshid was the government’s law minister.
Perhaps the most surprising part of Sunday’s announcement was that Rahul Gandhi, the son of the current Congress Party leader Sonia Gandhi and the heir apparent in the family that played a crucial role in India politics since independence, was not among those named to new positions. The younger Mr. Gandhi’s ascent into a leadership position in the government has long been expected.Perhaps the most surprising part of Sunday’s announcement was that Rahul Gandhi, the son of the current Congress Party leader Sonia Gandhi and the heir apparent in the family that played a crucial role in India politics since independence, was not among those named to new positions. The younger Mr. Gandhi’s ascent into a leadership position in the government has long been expected.
A TV news channel quoted Mr. Singh on Sunday as explaining, “I always wanted Rahul to be in the cabinet, but he wants to strengthen the party. This is hopefully the last cabinet reshuffle.” The new appointments of seven cabinet positions and 15 ministers of state follow recent efforts by the government to open India’s retail, insurance and airline industries to more foreign investment and competition. The government also announced measures to reduce popular subsidies for gasoline, diesel and cooking gas. A TV news channel quoted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday as explaining, “I always wanted Rahul to be in the cabinet, but he wants to strengthen the party. This is hopefully the last cabinet reshuffle.” The new appointments of seven cabinet positions and 15 ministers of state follow recent efforts by the government to open India’s retail, insurance and airline industries to more foreign investment and competition. The government also announced measures to reduce popular subsidies for gasoline, diesel and cooking gas.
These economic measures led to a storm of indignation from political opponents and caused a minority partner to leave the government and call for early elections. But they were greeted warmly by business leaders and investors and won praise from the United States Treasury secretary, Timothy F. Geithner, during a recent visit.These economic measures led to a storm of indignation from political opponents and caused a minority partner to leave the government and call for early elections. But they were greeted warmly by business leaders and investors and won praise from the United States Treasury secretary, Timothy F. Geithner, during a recent visit.
India’s once-blistering economic growth has slowed, and the steady drumbeat of corruption charges has taken a toll on the government’s credibility, which is one reason, among others, why early elections are considered possible. The new measures and appointments are intended to help the government regain its credentials as a modernizing force, political analysts said.India’s once-blistering economic growth has slowed, and the steady drumbeat of corruption charges has taken a toll on the government’s credibility, which is one reason, among others, why early elections are considered possible. The new measures and appointments are intended to help the government regain its credentials as a modernizing force, political analysts said.

Hari Kumar contributed reporting from New Delhi.

Hari Kumar contributed reporting from New Delhi.