Minister of State Lalchand Kataria, who was at the centre of much confusion following his appointment as MoS defence, has had his portfolio reassigned to that of rural development.
Kataria was a first time appointee to the cabinet, and the decision to give him defence caught many by surprise, especially given that MoS Defence Jitendra Singh was also from Rajasthan.
Kataria taking oath. Image courtesy Press Information Bureau
The re-appointment comes following a meeting between Kataria and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday.
CNN-IBN reported that Kataria had refused to take charge in Defence Ministry and official sources said he conveyed to the Prime Minister that since the other Minister of State Jitendra Singh also hailed from Rajasthan like him, he would find it difficult to work in the Defence Ministry.
Kataria was not the only change in the newly appointed cabinet however.
In two other changes, Milind Deora, Minister of State (MoS) in Telecommunication and Information Technology Ministry, got the additional portfolio of Shipping in the same rank and Panabaka Laxmi, who was made MoS in Textile Ministry on Sunday, was reallocated the Petroleum and Gas department.
