'Not unhappy with new ministry, never haggled'

"The prime minister took me into confidence about the change in my portfolio and that was enough for me. I have never in my life haggled or bargained for portfolios," Reddy said.

S Jaipal Reddy

"It has been my effort to be a faithful partyman under a truthful (prime) minister and that shall be my focus and that has been my focus," he added.

In the cabinet reshuffle Sunday, Jaipal Reddy was transferred from the crucial petroleum ministry to the ministry of science and technology Veerappa Moily is the new petroleum minister.

Asked whether he was given a reason for his removal from the petroleum ministry, Reddy said, "No minister is ever told about the reason and I think the PM should not give the reason for change in a portfolio." He added that he had an "excellent" relationship with the PM and that he had always been shown affection by him.