Tuesday's Cabinet expansion may be delayed

The Cabinet expansion and second round of swearing in of ministers, scheduled for Tuesday, may be delayed by a day.

Sources in the Congress party have hinted at the possible delay in Tuesday's swearing-in ceremony owing to the havoc caused by Cyclone Aila in West Bengal.

Trinamool Congress chief and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee is in Kolkata coordinating relief for the cyclone-affected people and may give Tuesday's ceremony a miss.

Mamata, who arrived in Kolkata on Saturday evening, was to return to New Delhi on Monday. In fact, she will, on Tuesday, formally take charge as the Railway Minister at the Eastern Railway Headquarters in Kolkata and not at Rail Bhavan in Delhi.

"I am unable to go to Delhi. I have to stand by the people of those affected by the cyclone that has hit West Bengal. I will take charge as Railway Minister at the Eastern Railway headquarters in Kolkata on Tuesday," Mamata told media persons.

With five Trinamool MPs expected to be part of the second round of government cabinet expansion, it is rumoured that the ceremony may be delayed by the day, sources added.