Jaipal Reddy takes over as science and technology minister

Even as rumours swirled around his reported displeasure on being moved out of the Petroleum Ministry, S. Jaipal Reddy took charge as the new science and technology minister on the evening of October 29.

Reddy played down the controversy around his departure from the oil ministry and declared that he was a faithful partyman.

The new science and technology minister said that he was not insistent on getting a particular portfolio. "The prime minister took me into confidence about the change of my portfolio. That was enough for me," he said. "Formation of the cabinet is the exclusive right of the prime minister."