Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will reshuffle his Council of Ministers on Wednesday, with the swearing-in of the new incumbents scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, government sources confirmed. This comes almost precisely one month after the conclusion of the Congress' 83rd plenary session at Burari, and after weeks of feverish speculation.

It also signals the fact that changes in the party organisation, including the reconstitution of the apex decision-making body - the Congress Working Committee - will follow shortly. On Tuesday, Congress president Sonia Gandhi met Dr. Singh reportedly to finalise the list of those to be included in, or shifted or dropped from the Council of Ministers.