New Delhi, Jan. 17: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi have so far not worked out sweeping changes in the Union cabinet.

Hints from the government as well as the party suggest that the plan for an overhaul is being put on hold.

Although Sonia and Manmohan are expected to meet again tomorrow to discuss the shuffle and three meetings have already taken place, there is little chance of the top four — home, finance, defence and external affairs — being disturbed, sources said.

Even those who strongly felt till a few days ago that finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and home minister P. Chidambaram would swap positions now say the party is not prepared for such a dramatic change.

S.M. Krishna may remain in the external affairs ministry despite widespread speculation about his exit.

The Prime Minister’s plan to inject dynamism and urgency in the infrastructure ministries has also not materialised, though some departments may get new faces.

Asked what compelled the party brass to drop the idea, sources cited “lack of talent” and “reluctance to take major risks” as the main reasons.

The sources said the Prime Minister’s desire for “drastic changes” required a “pool of talented and experienced leaders” as replacements.

Most leaders admitted there would be some changes at the middle-level but expressed ignorance about the process as only Sonia and Manmohan knew the details. The only other person associated with the exercise is Sonia’s political secretary Ahmed Patel. The picture will become clearer after tomorrow’s meeting between the Prime Minister and the Congress president. Sources said that though the shuffle was expected to be carried out anytime this week, no date has been fixed as yet.

The shuffle may take place between January 19 and 22, or any day before Republic Day, according to the sources.

The sources said speculation about an early shuffle triggered by the Prime Minister’s meeting with President Pratibha Patil this evening was misplaced. The Prime Minister does not have to meet the President to seek time for a shuffle as it is normally done by some junior officer in the PMO. The Prime Minister doesn’t discuss the shuffle with the President either.

A statement issued by the President’s office said: “The Prime Minister called on the President today. The meeting lasted for about 45 minutes. The two leaders discussed the forthcoming budget session of Parliament. They also discussed the current economic situation, including price rise, internal security and various other issues of national and international importance.”

Manmohan calls on the President regularly. Sources said this meeting was a courtesy call as the Manmohan had been wanting to visit Rashtrapati Bhavan since the start of the New Year.k