Mamata, Gingee make a comeback

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Gingee Ramachandran were on Monday re-inducted into the Council of Ministers.

President A P J Abdul Kalam administered them the oath of office and secrecy at a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The Trinamool chief, who was inducted into the Cabinet, was made a minister without portfolio.

Ramachandran, who was reinducted as a minister of state, was given the textiles portfolio.

In other changes made at the level of minister of state, Bandaru Dattatreya, who was in the railway ministry, was given charge of urban development and poverty alleviation, according to a Rashtrapati Bhavan communiqué.

Yaso Naik, who was an MoS in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, got Finance. P Radhakrishnan moved from sports and youth affairs to road transport and highways.

Basavagouda R Patil became the second MoS in railways, moving from textiles.

Santosh Gangwar, who was MoS in the labour ministry, was shifted to heavy industries and public enterprises.