New Delhi, May 25: First it was a political and now it is natural and terror reasons. Uncertainty looms over the second edition of the cabinet formation scheduled Tuesday due to the volatile situation in Punjab and the fierce cyclone that has hit West Bengal, official sources said here Monday. The Congress leadership has yet to finalise the ministerial berths.

"Due to the situation in Punjab and West Bengal, the cabinet expansion might not happen," a highly placed Congress leader revealed.

"In addition to these reasons, the party leadership has yet to finalise the ministerial berths and how many would be represented from each state," the Congress leader said.

However, he said that there was a possibility of the swearing in of the remaining ministers taking place as scheduled.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and 19 cabinet ministers were sworn in on May 23.

The Punjab violence has claimed one life while eight others were injured as police opened fire at two places in the state during six hours of widespread violence by thousands of followers of a Sikh sect after their leader was slain in Austria.

In West Bengal, 18 people were killed and the Indian Army was asked to start rescue operations in the coastal South 24 Parganas district where cyclone Aila left a trail of destruction in its wake. (IANS)
View all news