Chidambaram made finance minister, Shinde gets 'powerful' home ministry

In an expected Cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday , Home Minister P.Chidambaram was made India's new finance minister, while his cabinet colleague Sushilkumar Shinde was given the charge of the home ministry.

"The president, as advised by the prime minister, has directed that the portfolios of the following ministers will be re-allocated as follows - P. Chidambaram Finance, Sushilkumar Shinde Home Affairs," a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique issued Tuesday said.

P Chidambaram.

"Further, as advised by the prime minister, the president has also directed that M. Veerappa Moily, Minister of Corporate Affairs, will be assigned additional charge of the ministry of power," it added.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was handling the finance ministry after Pranab Mukherjee resigned from the post ahead of the Presidential election.

Sushilkumar Shinde has been under fire for half the nation suffering a power outage.