New Delhi, Jan 11 (TNN): Congress is set to rejig the Union council of ministers later this month, a move which will set in motion the process of reshuffle in the party organisation and clinch the long-pending change of responsibilities in the ruling camp.

Sources said tinkering in the Union ministry was likely to happen after 'makar sankranti' on January 14.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has already held two rounds of consultations with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The finishing touch may come soon after the party has figured out whether to strictly enforce the `one man-one post' principle and go for big ministry-organisation swaps.

The `one man-one post' principle lays down that the same individual can't hold positions in the government and the organisation.

The rejig in some important portfolios has been discussed. However, while the need for a surgery after one and a half years of government when it is mired in myriad political problems and facing a full-blooded opposition campaign on corruption is acutely felt, the party leadership is hamstrung by weak bench strength.

There is also the possibility of some young MPs getting in, but the space for them is limited because of the compulsion not to offend the entrenched egos crucial for the party's political interests in different regions.

Interestingly, some of the ministers may want to shift to the organisation: seen in the party as a reflection of both the recognition that the ministerial perch has turned out to be less exciting than assumed, as well as the fact that the government has lost its elan and, with political challenge looming, the organisation is where the action is going to be. In some other cases, the party may also use the exercise to "persuade" a couple of those who are comfortable in their ministerial roles to come back to the organisation to fight off Opposition's growing challenge.

While the telecom portfolio is expected to remain with Congress in view of DMK's handling of the charge pushing the government towards a virtual crisis, it is not clear that Kapil Sibal would be divested of any portfolio. He has charge of HRD, telecom and science and technology.

The AICC organisation is in for some reordering. The post of general secretary is vacant after Prithviraj Chavan's shifting to Maharashtra as chief minister while three other office-bearers -- A K Antony, Veerappa Moily and Narayanswamy -- are also ministers at the Centre. Besides, AICC is learnt to be looking to add some fresh faces to its team.