PM calls meeting of Union Cabinet

A day after being sworn in as Prime Minister for a second term, Manmohan Singh called a meeting of the Union Cabinet this morning.

Though the meeting is being described as a customary one, sources said it is likely to take a decision on convening a Parliament session to enable new members to take oath.

President Prabtiba Patil will address a joint sitting of both the houses during the session. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister visited Mahatma Gandhi's memorials besides those of other departed leaders and placed a wreath on them.

Singh was yesterday sworn in as Prime Minister for a second term along with 19 other Cabinet ministers including new entrants S M Krishna and Mamata Banerjee.

The 76-year-old economist-politician was sworn in along with senior members of his previous team, Pranab Mukherjee, P Chidambaram, Sharad Pawar and A K Antony.

The 19 ministers, all of Cabinet rank, include Ghulam Nabi Azad, Veerappa Moily, new entrant Rajasthan PCC chief C PJoshi and Anand Sharma and B K Handique, who were promoted from the previous ministry.