NEW DELHI, Apr 24:
Speculation was rife today about possible changes in the Government and the AICC with some ministers reportedly writing to Congress president Sonia Gandhi of their intention to work for the organisation.
Media was abuzz with reports that at least four ministers Jairam Ramesh, Salman Khurshid, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Vayalar Ravi have offered to quit the Government and work for the party. Azad is already AICC general secretary.
However, Ravi, Minister for Overseas Affairs, denied having written any such letter and said he was happy in the job he was doing.
But fuelling speculation, Ramesh and Khurshid met Gandhi at her residence this evening. There was no official word on what they discussed.
Sources said Khurshid, who holds Law and Minority Affairs portfolios, had written to Gandhi just after the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election results last month, explaining the scene after the party’s drubbing.
In that context, the senior Congress leader from Uttar Pradesh is believed to have offered to give up his ministerial posts and work for the party.
Ravi vehemently denied having written any letter to Gandhi. “I have never written any letter,” he said, adding he had been asked to look after Andhra Pradesh affairs as Azad could not go there.
Interestingly, Gandhi held confabulations with top party brass including Pranab Mukherjee, A K Antony, P Chidambaram and Ahmed Patel. Pawan Kumar Bansal and V Narayanasami were also present.
Party sources feel that any change in the Government and the organisation could come about after the current Parliament session by which time the report of Antony committee on the election reverses in UP, Punjab and Goa is expected.
Rejecting speculation that he has offerred to step down as minister to work for the party, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said he has not written any such letter to the Congress President.
“I have written no such letters,” Ramesh told here.
He was dismissive about media reports which suggested that he had written such a letter, saying these were “not worth commenting on”.
Meanwhile, a senior Congress leader scoffed at the reports and termed them as baseless. (PTI)
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