With Congress general secreatry Rahul Gandhi declining to join the government, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Sunday that he has other pre-occupations and wants to strengthen the party.
“I have always wanted him in the government. He has other pre-occupations. He wants to strengthen the party,” Manmohan Singh told reporters after the swearing in ceremonly at Rashtrapati Bhawan in which 22 ministers were inducted in the government.
He was responding to a question about Gandhi not joining the government.
Of those inducted Sunday, seven have been elevated to cabinet rank. Of the 15 ministers of state, two will hold independent charge.
—IANS