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Our Bureau

New Delhi, May 28 Twelve days after sweeping the polls, the UPA Government has its 79 Council of Ministers in place.

While six key portfolios were announced on May 23, the rest were allocated late Thursday evening.

Senior leader and former Chief Minister Mr Virbhadra Singh is the new Minister of Steel; Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh is Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises; Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde retains the power portfolio and Dr Farooq Abdullah of the National Conference has been given the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

Contrary to speculation Mr Kamal Nath, who was former Commerce Minister, has bagged the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. In line with expectations, DMK’s Mr Dayanidhi Maran is the new Minister of Textiles; Mr M.K. Azhagiri has clinched Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, while Mr A. Raja continues to hold the Communications and Information Technology portfolio.

The Ministry for Commerce and Industry has gone to Mr Anand Sharma who earlier was Minister of State for IB and External Affairs. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has been allocated to Ms Ambika Soni, while Mr Kapil Sibal is the new Minister for Human Resource Development. Mr Murli Deora retains the Petroleum and Natural Gas portfolio as was widely expected, while Mr S. Jaipal Reddy will continue as Minister of Urban Development.

The Ministry of Shipping (bifurcated from Ministry of Surface Transport) has gone to Mr G.K. Vasan; Civil Aviation is being retained by Mr Praful Patel who continues to be Minister of State with Independent Charge. Mr Veerappa Moilly, who set up the National Law School, is Minister for Law and Justice. Mr Prithvi Raj Chavan, who was Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office in the last UPA Government has retained the portfolio, and will also handle Ministry of Earth, Science and Technology, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions as well as Parliamentary Affairs.

Among the Generation Next, Mr Jyotiraditya Scindia is Minister of State Commerce and Industry; Mr Jitin Prasad is Minister of State of Petroleum and Natural Gas; Mr Sachin Pilot is Minister of State in the Ministry of Communications and IT; Mr Pradeep Jain is Minister of State, Rural Development. Ms Agatha Sangma, the youngest Minister, 50 years younger than the oldest in the Cabinet, is Minister of State, Rural Development.

Agencies add: Among the 38 Ministers of State, Mr Shashi Tharoor, former UN diplomat, and Ms Preneet Kaur, wife of former Punjab Chief Minister, have got the External Affairs Ministry. Mr E. Ahamed, who was MoS External Affairs in the previous Government, has been shifted to Railways along with Mr K.H. Muniyappa.

Mr Srikant Jena has been named MoS Chemicals and Fertilisers while Mr Mukul Roy has been made MoS in Shipping. Ms D. Purandeswari retains the portfolio of MoS of HRD, Mr S.S. Palanimanickam for Finance and Mr M.M. Pallam Raju for Defence. Mr Namo Narain Meena, who was MoS Environment and Forests in the previous government, goes to Finance Ministry in the same rank, while Ms PanabakaLakshmi moves from Health to Textiles.

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