PM's 100-day timeline to be mantra for new ministers

Brimming with confidence, the ministers in the new Union Cabinet, some of whom are Congress heavyweights serving a second straight term, on Friday spoke of getting down to business quickly to work on the 100-day timeline set by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The ministers said they were not aware of the portfolios they would get but voiced their commitment to provide an 'honest, transparent and well meaning leadership' and work on setting targets and goals for various programmes in 100 days.

"The momentum of the government starts from day one and the action plan to be framed by each ministry sets the tone of the government," stressed Kamal Nath, who said he would be 'happy' in any portfolio. "I am looking forward to serving again with honesty and purpose," said the former commerce minister.

Kapil Sibal and Ambika Soni, who had looked after Science and Technology and Culture departments, respectively, in the outgoing Cabinet, said the strong mandate given to the Congress and the United Progressive Alliance was an opportunity to bear the responsibility of providing good governance.

Possibly sensing that Environment may come under his wing, Sibal spoke of how India is ready to meet challenges posed by global warming and how it was framing sound policies at the national and global level.

Soni said the Manmohan Singh government, in its first five-year term, fulfilled all the 'promises' and the roadmap in the first 100 days in its second term will be a sound platform to vigorously push new policies.