24 May 2004	Monday	04 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

NEW DELHI, May 23: Former high commissioner to Pakistan, Kunwar Natwar Singh was made India's new foreign minister on Sunday. The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance met on Sunday and decided on the allocation of portfolios , with P. Chidambaram getting the finance ministry.

Congress leader Shivraj Patil will be the home minister, while Pranab Mukherjee will look after defence. Congressman Kamal Nath will take charge of commerce and industry while Arjun Singh will take over from Bharatiya Janata Party leader Murli Manohar Joshi at the human resources development ministry.

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad will be the parliamentary affairs minister. Congress leader P. M. Sayeed, who was the deputy speaker of the 13th Lok Sabha, will be the power minister.

Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Laloo Prasad Yadav, as was expected, was allocated the railways portfolio while Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel were given food and agriculture and civil aviation, respectively.

Dayanidhi Maran, son of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Murasoli Maran, will be at the hot seat at the IT and telecom ministry. T. R. Baalu, who is also from the DMK, will be the environment minister.

Lok Janshakti Party leader Ram Vilas Paswan, who was said to be vying for railways being allocated to Laloo Yadav, will be the chemical and fertilizer minister.