AGE NO BAR The Congress-led UPA undertook the last Cabinet reshuffle before the 2014 polls. The average age of the four Union Cabinet ministers who were sworn in was 74 years. The average age of the eight ministers (including the four MoS s) is 71 years. A day earlier, the Congress reshuffled its office bearers. The AICC office bearers bore a much younger look with 52 being the average age.

Cabinet ministers Ministers of State (72) (86) MANIKRAO GAVIT (79) Union minister for road transport & Labour & employment minister MoS, social justice and empowerment highways | The octogenarian Jat leader from got back | A Congress veteran; is a tribal leader from | Senior Congress the same portfolio he had initially held during UPA-I. Maharashtra and a nine-time MP. leader and AICC Subsequently, he was minister of mining. His general secretary, appointment is crucial in the run up SANTOSH CHOWDHURY (69) who had been a to the year-end Rajasthan Assembly MoS, health & family welfare ministry Union minister from polls, as the Jat community is miffed | A Dalit from Hoshiarpur in Punjab and has 2004–2009 UPA-I on with the Congress over former been a Congress worker for four decades. several portfolios — statistics and minister Mahipal Maderna’s arrest in programme implementation, NRI affairs, the Bhanwari Devi murder case. Ola E M SUDARSAN youth & Sports affairs and labour & has won the Jhunjhunu seat five employment times in a row NATCHIAPPAN (66) MoS, commerce & industry (67) KS RAO (70) | Is a MP from Tamil Nadu and a Union minister for housing & urban poverty Union textiles minister member of the JPC on 2G scam and a alleviation member of the panel of the presiding | The Andhra Pradesh MP is a officers in the Rajya Sabha. | The former National long-serving Congressman Commission for Women and a five-term MP. chief has been rewarded Andhra goes to Assembly JD SEELAM (60) for her long stint in party polls in 2014. Incidentally, MoS, finance work. Has served as Rao is a strong advocate of | Seelam is a former IAS officer and a Dalit Rajasthan PCC chief from a united Andhra and is face from Andhra Pradesh. He is the second 2001-04 and head of the opposed to the demand for a separate Andhra MP to be inducted into the Cabinet from the state which goes into polls next AICC media department. Is also the editor of the Telangana state. Congress faces an uphill task year. Congress mouthpiece, Sandesh. With CP Joshi, in retaining Andhra who is also from Mewar region, stepping down from the Cabinet, Vyas has been inducted

Two ministers who stepped down from the Cabinet to be Congress office-bearers: Their average age is 56

AJAY MAKEN (49) CP JOSHI (63) Resigned as minister for housing and urban poverty alleviation on the eve Stepped down as minister for road transport and highways as well as of the Cabinet reshuffle to take on greater organsational responsibilities in minister for railways, to work for the party. Joshi, a former head of the Congress the run up to the 2014 polls. Being young and politically savvy, suited in Rajasthan and a known confidant, has been entrusted with Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi’s scheme of young office bearers; the charge of crucial states like West Bengal and Bihar, apart from Assam in the has been appointed general secretary in charge of the rechristened media run up to the 2014 polls. Joshi’s task is cut out, as he would have to skillfully department, now known as communications department. handle former UPA ally TMC, as well as negotiate the post JD(U)–BJP split political landscape. With an eager RJD The New MP, is seen as a counterweight to Delhi waiting in the wings to ally with the Congress, CP Joshi Chief Minister , as the Delhi Congress goes has his hands full for 2014. all out in its bid to return to power for the fourth term in the state. Has also held the portfolios of youth affairs The first-time MP (elected in 2009), has also held portfolios and sports, MoS (Independent), charge, as well as of rural development and panchayati raj MoS, Home Affairs. Compiled by: Kavita Chowdhury