It was a micro-mini cabinet reshuffe all right but significant nonetheless. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee reinducted Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee as cabinet minister completely on her terms. Well nearly. Since she didn't get a portfolio of her choice-surface transport or civil aviation-she opted to be without portfolio. But by having a cabinet minister without portfolio, Vajpayee joins Nehru's club. Lal Bahadur Shastri was minister without portfolio undertaking special assignments in the Nehru cabinet in January-June 1964 until he himself became prime minister after the latter's death.

BACK AGAIN: President Kalam flanked by Banerjee and Ramachandran; Vajpayee looks on

So were V.K. Krishna Menon and T.T. Krishnamachari. Going by past record such ministers without portfolios usually last for a couple of months. Mamata can't possibly go without a ministry until October 2004. By reinducting her Vajpayee has given her the lease of life she needed after the drubbing Trinamool received in the panchayat polls.

However, massaging the ego of allies beyond a point can hurt the NDA itself. Like reinducting as minister of state MDMK's Gingee Ramachandran, who quit in May after his pa got embroiled in a cash for transfer scam which is under the CBI scanner. The only saving grace is he didn't get the same finance portfolio.