President Obama plans to nominate Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan as the next director of the Office of Management and Budget, and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro as his replacement during an event Friday afternoon at the White House, according to a White House official.

The Cabinet reshuffling, which has been anticipated for nearly a week, would elevate Castro, a three-term mayor and rising star in the Democratic Party, to the national stage. It will also afford a new challenge to Donovan, a longtime Obama confidant who was tasked with overseeing the federal Hurricane Sandy relief program.

Rumors of Castros nomination have led to widespread speculation that the San Antonio mayor could have his sights on higher ambitions.

Castro was chosen by Obama to give the keynote address at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, the same slot the president himself used in 2004 to earn national recognition. Castro will be reunited in Washington with his twin brother, Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), a first-term congressman representing San Antonio.

While HUD secretary is not among the more visible Cabinet posts, it has proven a political launching pad in the past. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo held the job in the Clinton administration before returning to the New York to run for the governors mansion. And Castro, among the highest-profile Hispanic Democrats, is considered a top contender for the partys vice presidential nomination in 2016.

The White House said Castro had put the city and its citizens on a new trajectory during his time at its helm.

He has been a leader among mayors in terms of implementing housing and economic development programs and under his leadership San Antonio has been highly successful at lifting educational attainment and spurring job creation The President is excited about the Mayor bringing his practical, on-the-ground success to scale at the Federal level, the official said.

Donovan, meanwhile, will replace Sylvia Mathews Burwell, who has been nominated to be the new secretary of Health and Human Services.

A former commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Donvoan is among the few original Obama appointees remaining in his Cabinet.

The White House official hailed his track record of using data to make good decisions and drive results and described him as a trusted adviser to the president.

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In Cabinet shuffle, Obama taps Castro

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Agartala, May 21 : Manik Sarkar-led Left Front Cabinet announced to induct Naresh Chandra Jamatia as successor of fifth term minister Jitendra Choudhury, who was elected as an MP in the 16th Lok Sabha.

After detailed discussion in CPI(M) party, the Cabinet yesterday finalised the induction of Mr Jamtia, a two-term MLA from Bagma constituency of South Tripura as a cabinet minister.

The proposal of Mr Jamtia's induction has been sent to the Governor last night by the Chief Minister, official statement here today said.

The date of his swearing in and the portfolio for Mr Jamatia has not yet been finalised but party sources confirmed that he will be given responsibility of some minor departments by re-shuffling the cabinet.

Mr Jamatia (55) could not complete diploma in electrical engineering but is most internationally exposed person in CPI(M) Tripura state committee member.

His exposure in Germany, Sweden, South Africa, Venezuela, Brazil, Thailand and Bangladesh on tribal issues made him an expert of the tribal politics, livelihood issues and tribal life and culture.

''Though several names of veteran tribal leaders for the cabinet as replacement of Jitendra Choudhury was discussed, finally after considering his exposure and experience, party top leaders also vetted for Naresh Jamatia,'' said a state committee member of CPI(M) on condition of anonymity.

According to him, Mr Choudhuy's entry into Parliament has created a serious vacuum in tribal politics in the state. Though there are several veteran tribal representatives aspiring for ministerial berth, the party choose Mr Jamatia because of his smartness, international exposure, fluency in English and Hindi and also his commitment for the tribals.

''The selection of Naresh Jamatia has given a clear indication of qualitative change in CPI-M party, as now they inclined for educated, energetic and smart internationally exposed English speaking persons not seniority in party or MLA,'' said political analyst of Tripura (Central) University Dr Alok Bhattacharjee.

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Industry Minister resign, Sarkar propose to bring face in cabinet

A socio-political group in Ekiti State, the Ekiti-Eleven, has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to explain what is delaying his appointment of a minister from the state.

In a statement in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday by its Chairman, Mr. Femi Ajiniran, the E-Eleven expressed concerns that there had been no replacement for a former Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt Caleb Olubolade (retd).

The group said, Some few months ago, the minister representing Ekiti in the federal cabinet, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade, resigned his appointment to contest the governorship of Ekiti State.

The minister had expressed and pursued interest in this race for almost two years, enough time for the Presidency to have picked the necessary intelligence over his ambition and prepared the appropriate scenario/response for his replacement to ensure Ekiti State is not denied representation in the federal cabinet. This does not seem to have been the case.

We expect that almost immediately a minister resigns his/her appointment, a replacement would be named and processed through confirmation to guarantee no loss of representation. This is particularly so in a situation where adequate notice is given of the impending vacancy.

The group stressed that Jonathan needed to reassure the people of Ekiti State whose patience was thinning out, that his presidency meant well for them and had their interest at heart.

The representation of every state in the federal cabinet should be considered sacrosanct as not to be subjected to the vicissitudes of politics and its exigencies.

We therefore call on the President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, to name without further delay the minister to represent Ekiti State in the federal cabinet. This is what Ekiti people deserve. Mr. President, name our minister now, the group demanded.

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Group queries Jonathan over Ekiti ministerial slot

Stockton street lighting replacement to cost 14m but will reduce annual running costs

3:46pm Wednesday 21st May 2014 in News

A THORNABY-based company has been awarded a 14m contract to design a street lighting project which is set to save Stockton Borough Council 1.8m a year.

The money is being invested despite the council shedding about 150 jobs in the coming year, and more likely after that, in an attempt to save 18m from its annual budget by 2018.

In March, Stockton Councils cabinet agreed to invest 14m in a three year programme to replace almost 28,000 street lighting lanterns with modern, LED lighting units.

All street lighting columns over 25-years-old, around 8,500 in total, will also be replaced.

Stainton Lighting Design Services Limited, in Thornaby, has now been appointed to plan the lighting replacement.

The councils cabinet member for regeneration and transport, Councillor Mike Smith, said: Im delighted that this project is not only going to deliver year-on-year savings for the council but is also making use of the top-class expertise offered by a local Thornaby-based company.

We know how important it is to get the design right as better lighting makes people feel safer, so we are looking forward to working with Stainton Lighting Design Services to make sure the lights are positioned where they will most benefit our communities.

The projected annual savings will come from the lower energy bills and reduced maintenance costs associated with the more efficient and reliable LED lighting.

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Stockton street lighting replacement to cost 14m but will reduce annual running costs

Tito Mboweni, the former chairman of AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. (ANG) and an ex-governor of South Africas central bank, declined to be appointed to Parliament, indicating he may not take a post in President Jacob Zumas cabinet.

Mboweni, 55, who was nominated as a lawmaker by the ruling African National Congress, withdrew his name from the list, ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe told reporters in Cape Town today, without disclosing the reasons for his decision.

Zuma is set to name his cabinet a day after he is sworn into office for a second term on May 24. Mboweni had been cited by some political analysts and economists as a possible replacement for Pravin Gordhan if Zuma fails to reappoint him to the position.

While South Africas constitution enables the president to appoint two cabinet ministers who arent members of Parliament, Mantashe indicated Mboweni was unlikely to be in the running for such a post.

I do not know what the logic would be of withdrawing from the lists and then still wanting to be a cabinet minister, he said.

Mboweni was reappointed to the ANCs national executive committee, the partys top decision-making body, in 2012. He resigned from AngloGold on Feb. 17, to focus on his increasing portfolio of professional commitments, the company said at the time.

The ANC also named party Chairwoman Baleka Mbete as speaker of Parliament and reappointed Stone Sizani as chief whip.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mike Cohen in Cape Town at mcohen21@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Nasreen Seria at nseria@bloomberg.net Karl Maier

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Mboweni Declines South African Ruling Party Post to Parliament

WASHINGTON, May 19 (UPI) --San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro will be nominated as the next Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, a move that both indicates the Obama administration's confidence in its ability to get nominations through the Senate and one that could have implications for the 2016 presidential campaign.

The Texas Democrat, 39, shot to attention with a lauded keynote speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, when the parallels between his splashy entrance into national politics and that of then-Senate candidate Barack Obama in 2004 were well noted.

As one of the party's rising stars, Castro's Hispanic identity and compelling biography as the grandson of Mexican immigrants have put him and his twin brother, Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, on many Democrats' shortlists as future presidential or vice presidential material.

Immigration is expected to play an outsize role in 2016, as Latino groups have grown angry with President Obama over continued deportations and Republicans have blocked legislative efforts for reform in the name of border security.

While the GOP has several powerful Latinos on their 2016 bench, including Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida, Ted Cruz of Texas and New Mexico Gov. Susanna Martinez, Democrats are less prepared. Both parties have acknowledged an interest in recognizing the growing size and influence of the country's Hispanic population.

Castro had previously rejected administration overtures to join Obama's cabinet: In 2012, he turned down the chance to head the Department of Transportation, and earlier this year said he planned to finish out his term as mayor rather than take a chance to run for governor. He has not yet commented on his change of heart, although former HUD Secretary under President Bill Clinton, Henry Cisneros, said he encouraged him.

"I advised that he accept a position for President Obama," Cisneros said earlier this year. "I thought that if he was going to be vice-presidential material in 2016, then he needed to be more than mayor at that time."

Castro's elevation is the latest move in Cabinet shakeup that began with the resignation of Kathleen Sebelius as head of the Department of Health and Human Services last month. President Obama nominated Office of Management and Budget Director Sylvia Mathews Burwell as Sebelius' replacement, and will nominate current HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan to take Burwell's place.

Burwell was confirmed 96-0 last year to her previous post, and is expected to sail through Senate confirmation despite the Sebelius' rocky tenure. Democrats were able to push through a rule change last year meant to circumvent Republican filibusters that had held up many administration nominees during Obama's first term, instead allowing for Cabinet and judicial picks to be confirmed with a simple majority.

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Obama to nominate Julian Castro to HUD in Cabinet shakeup

New Delhi, May 18: Narendra Modi has set cabinet-formation talks in motion amid a general indication that veterans should not get too high on hope and that a few heavyweights may be held back for party work.

Modi dropped a clear hint for ministerial hopefuls this morning when a group of newly elected MPs from Karnataka called on him at Gujarat Bhavan.

The visitors included South Bangalore MP Ananth Kumar, who was the urban development minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, and former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa.

A source said that Modi reminded them the BJP organisation was at least as important as the government, if not more, implying that every heavyweight should not expect a cabinet berth.

He apparently added that the Modi hawa (Modi wave) could peter out in three months or so, therefore it was important to keep the party on its toes constantly.

One indication that party sources have received so far is that Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar could be moved to Delhi and given charge of a critical ministry. Such a move would be of a piece with Modis maxim that running a state is as difficult and complex as overseeing the Centre.

Parrikar, serving a second term in Goa, is credited with coalescing the Christian and Muslims votes for the BJP in the 2012 Assembly elections by repairing the partys image among the minorities.

He had promptly cracked down on the Karnataka-based vigilante outfit, Sri Rama Sene, when its chief Pramod Muthalik tried to set up base in Goa.

BJP sources, however, said a good replacement would have to be found if Parrikar was to relocate. Besides, in dissidence-prone Goa, Parrikar had managed to stave off intra-party conflicts.

It now seems more and more unlikely that veterans L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi would find a place in the government, even outside of the cabinet.

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Modi tries to temper high hopes

Patna, May 19: Nitish Kumar today stuck to his decision to give up the chief ministers chair but sprang a surprise by picking his low-profile cabinet colleague Jitan Ram Manjhi for the post.

The 68-year-old Manjhi, who hails from Gaya, is a legislator from south Bihars Makhdumpur Assembly segment in Jehanabad.

Manjhi who belongs to the Mahadalit Musahar (rat catchers) community, among the lowest in the pecking order of Bihars caste hierarchy held the portfolio of SC/ST welfare in the outgoing cabinet.

Nitish had stunned all his supporters and detractors included by demitting office on Saturday, a day after his JD(U) suffered its worst-ever debacle in the general elections.

Today, after refusing to give in to the clamour of his legislators to rescind his decision to quit, Nitish again stunned one and all by choosing Manjhi as the next occupant of 1 Aney Marg, the official residence of the chief minister in Patna. Nitish himself is expected to move into the bungalow at 11 Strand Road.

Manjhi said he himself had no clue about Nitishs decision. I was not aware that I am going to become the chief minister until Nitish called me to 1 Aney Marg to tell me that this house is now yours, Manjhi said after Nitish escorted him to Raj Bhavan.

Nitish, accompanied by JD(U) national president Sharad Yadav and Manjhi, met Governor D.Y. Patil to inform him about the decision on who would be the legislature party leader and head of government. We have submitted a list of 119 MLAs, including two Independents, in our support in the Assembly that has a strength of 239 as of now, Nitish said. Manjhi is a capable leader as he has the experience of heading government departments.

Nitish picked Manjhi as his replacement after the ruling JD(U) legislature party unanimously authorised him to nominate his successor. Nitish, who had resigned as chief minister on Saturday owning moral responsibility for his partys debacle in the general elections, refused to give in to the clamour of his legislators to rescind his resignation.

Through the day yesterday, the MLAs had been insistent that Nitish reconsider his decision to quit because of the JD(U)s poor performance that saw it end up with a tally of just two seats out of the 40 up for grabs in Bihar. Nitish asked for a day to think about their demand he was also giving his frenzied legislators, who were sitting on dharna, time to cool down.

At the legislature party meet today, Nitish explained to the MLAs why it was necessary to take extraordinary decisions in the face of extraordinary challenges ahead of next years Assembly elections and succeeded in persuading them to abide by his decision. The MLAs relented and authorised him to choose his replacement.

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This house is now yours

With the Modi juggernaut crushing the Congress in Maharashtra, alarmed party men are pushing hard for a change of guard in the State. Already two Cabinet Ministers have sent in their resignations in an attempt to build pressure for the ouster of Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan. The resignation of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, after the abysmal showing by his Janata Dal(United), is serving to tighten the screws on Mr. Chavan.

The Congress has won just two of the 48 Lok Sabha seats a historic low in Maharashtra, once considered its bastion. Party MLAs and functionaries fear they will lose the Assembly polls in October as well unless there is a complete overhaul at the top including replacement of PCC chief Manikrao Thakre and AICC general secretary in-charge of Maharashtra Mohan Prakash.

Publicly, Industries Minister Narayan Rane said he was quitting since he could not ensure the victory of his son Nilesh Rane from Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg. Employment Guarantee Scheme Minister Nitin Raut took moral responsibility for the defeat of the party in Nagpur, his home base.

However, others were more frank. The high command will have to change the Chief Minister for us to have a fighting chance in the Assembly polls, said a senior Minister. The Congress began its campaign too late and Mr. Chavan did not consult with party MLAs and other leaders. Its clear the Congress has lost touch with ground reality, he added.

Many MLAs see Mr. Chavan as an outsider to State politics, inexperienced in realpolitik. He has barely contested elections. How will he lead the State in an election? asked a functionary.

Mr. Chavan, who took over the reins of the State in the shadow of the Adarsh Housing Society scam, has also been accused of keeping key decisions pending for too long. His slow pace of file clearance even earned a public rebuke from the ally, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, who said the government had been struck by a paralytic stroke.

Another reason, a senior Congress functionary said, is that Mr. Manikrao Thakre lost interest in the polls as his son was denied ticket. We had no election campaign committee until the very end.

When contacted, Mr. Thakre admitted the party should have begun its campaign much earlier. We made mistakes and will have assuage peoples anger. Several schemes could not be implemented and we will have to work much harder, he told The Hindu. Asked about the demands for a change of guard, he said, Resignations do not solve anything. We need to work together.

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Partymen seek Chavans ouster

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