New Delhi, Oct 17 (IANS): Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday for a "routine meeting", party sources said.

"Yes, he (Gandhi) met the prime minister," a Congress source told IANS.
He refused to divulge what was discussed, saying only that it was a routine meeting.

The meeting with the prime minister at his 7, Race Course Road residence comes amid speculation of Gandhi joining the cabinet.

On Tuesday, Manmohan Singh and Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi met President Pranab Mukherjee, sparking talk of a cabinet reshuffle that has been on the cards for some time.

Speculation about a cabinet reshuffle has been doing the rounds since the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress quit the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) last month leaving six posts vacant. C.P. Joshi, minister of state for road transport and highways, was given additional charge of the railways portfolio after Trinamool's Mukul Roy quit.
Slots vacated by the DMK earlier also have to be filled up. Besides, ministers holding dual charge are to be relieved.

Congress sources had hinted last month that the much awaited reshuffle could happen after Oct 15, after the end of the two-week-long shradh period considered inauspicious by Hindus.

The navratri period from Oct 16-23 is considered auspicious by the Hindus and could see changes in the government, said party sources.