NEW DELHI, Oct 24: Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee was promoted as foreign minister in a cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday that saw three new entrants into Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s ministerial council, officials said.

Mr Mukherjee, 70, who is seen as “Mr. Reliable” in India’s ruling Congress party, attended a swearing-in ceremony held by President Abdul Kalam, officials from the presidential palace said.

A. K. Antony, a former chief minister of the southern Indian state of Kerala, was given the defence portfolio. The 65-year-old Antony returns to the cabinet after a gap of more than 11 years.

M. H. Ambareesh, a film actor-turned Congress politician, and Jayprakash Narain Yadav of the government’s coalition partner Rashtriya Janata Dal were also sworn in as junior ministers, the officials added.

Portfolios of a small number of ministers were also reshuffled by Singh.

The crucial foreign ministry post fell vacant last November when the then minister Natwar Singh was charged with receiving kickbacks in an investigation into the UN oil-for-food programme in Iraq.—AFP