New Delhi, Nov 1 (IANS) Winter is in the air, so is a cabinet reshuffle. The murmur in the corridors of power is that some cabinet ministers may be given new berths and replacements could possibly be sought for key but unhappy ally DMK.

The reshuffle is expected before the winter session of parliament beginning Nov 19. Unlike UPA-1. which was smooth-sailing for the important southern partner, some key DMK ministers are having a tough time now and not enjoying the space and freedom they had in their previous avatar.

Ministers are reportedly complaining of interference by powerful bureaucrats and how even their ministry's activities were being supervised by a Group of Ministers headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

The party's patriarch and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi is reportedly under pressure by his son and union Fertilizers Minister M.K. Azhagiri that the DMK should quit the cabinet and back the government from the outside.