The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reshuffled his cabinet on Sunday, said to be the 'last reshuffle' of his term before the 2014 general elections.
Promoting younger members of the Congress Party that have been supported by Rahul Gandhi, the move has been seen as heavily influenced by Rahul, prompting speculation that he could be Congress' next working president or secretary general.
See here for analysis by Times of India.
Following SM Krishna's sudden departure on Friday from his role in the minister of external affairs, Salman Khurshid will take up the role.
In its editorial, The Hindu commented,
'The biggest upheavals have been in the ministries of External Affairs and Petroleum and Natural Gas. Salman Khurshid is a natural choice to fill the vacuum created by S.M. Krishna’s exit. Mr. Krishna may have been slow to get off the block but he leaves behind a Ministry that is focused and efficient and in whose performance he played no small role.
Always articulate, Mr. Khurshid has the breadth of vision needed to pull off complex diplomatic challenges. Of course, it is a job that will need his undivided attention at a time when he is in unnecessary trouble over allegations of irregularities in a trust run by him. Though the Congress high command has done well to ignore over-the-top demands for Mr. Khurshid’s resignation and gone ahead and promoted him, the sooner the allegations are despatched, the better.'
