New Delhi: December 31: Rajiv Gandhi and his team of new ministers took oath of office today. Five old cabinet ministers have been dropped. Most significant and surprising omission is that the Panjab Mukerjee who was considered closest to Mrs. Gandhi. In all, eleven new faces have replaced old cabinet, state and deputy ministers. Bansi Lal and K. C. Pant have staged a comeback whereas Arun Nehru and Natwar Singh are the prominent new faces. Arun Nehru, who is Rajiv’s cousin, was one of the General Secretaries of the Congress (1) and Natwar Singh had resigned his post as Foreign Secretary on the eve of elections. He has held many important diplomatic assignments including that of India’s High Commissioner in England.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 4, 1985
