Mrs. Gandhi reshuffles Cabinet to revitalize party

Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi has reshuffled her Cabinet in a move generally viewed as part of a bid to revitalize her ruling Congress-I Party after recent electoral defeats.

But Mrs. Gandhi stopped well short of the major changes predicted by many commentators after receiving resignation letters Jan. 28 from all 60 members of the National Council of Ministers, which gave her a free hand to reshape the government. She appointed nine new ministers of state and dropped six junior ministers. In the most senior change so far, Shipping and Transport Minister C.M. Stephen said he was resigning to take over as one of the five general secretaries of the Congress-I Party. Municipal elections in Delhi are scheduled for Feb. 5., when the party could face further difficulties.