New Delhi, Oct. 29 (ANI): The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday accused Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of promoting tainted ministers during Sunday's cabinet reshuffle.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on October 28 gave his cabinet an overdue facelift, bringing in younger ministers in a bid to breathe new life into his aged, scandal-tainted government ahead of state and national elections.
Salman Khurshid was made foreign affairs minister despites corruption allegation against his trust run by his wife Louise. Other new inducted ministers such as K Rahman Khan and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury are also under cloud.
"In the Manmohan Singh government allegations and charges against ministers are not minus point but it considered a plus point. The people, who are being investigated, have been promoted," said BJP spokesperson Hussain in New Delhi.
"Many ministers are alleged to be musclemen and some of them have domineering image," added Hussain.
The reshuffle, which has been on the cards for six months, may be Singh's last chance to significantly change the direction of his government and convince voters the ruling Congress party deserves a third consecutive term in 2014.
The Prime Minister rejigged about a third of his 30-member cabinet, and reshuffled a number of key portfolios, including, oil, foreign policy, railways and justice.
"This expansion was aimed at covering the corruption, to divert people's attention. This step was taken to divert people's attention as they faced the brunt of price rise and corruption," added Hussain.
Despite the reshuffle, relatively few senior ministers in the cabinet led by 80-year-old Singh are under 65. Outgoing foreign minister, S M Krishna, 80, had stepped down ahead of the rejig, saying he was "making way for youngsters".(ANI)