The biggest surprise is the choice of S M Krishna, the suave, IT-savvy former Karnataka chief minister, as India's new foreign minister.

According to top sources, Pranab Mukherjee [Images] will head the finance ministry. P Chidambaram [Images] has been given the home ministry once again though he was quite reluctant to take up the post --- his eyes were clearly on the "much more sophisticated finance ministry."

Kamal Nath, despite being among the senior-most Congress MPs, may not get a powerful ministry. He would have become the foreign minister, but for stiff internal opposition from inside the party.

So once again, the United Progressive Alliance [Images] government will be navigated by Congress President Sonia Gandhi [Images] and party general Secretary Rahul Gandhi [Images] from the outside. From inside, it will be run by Dr Singh, Mukherjee, Krishna, A K Antony, who will stay on as defence minister, and Chidambaram.