Ramesh did not offer to resign, asked to respect party limits

Hours after he met Home Minister P Chidambaram as a peace offering, sources in Jairam Ramesh's party say he has not offered to resign from the Cabinet. Ramesh has, instead, been reprimanded by the Congress high command, which reportedly told him to stop speaking out of turn, and to "stay within party limits."

In China last week, Ramesh, who is the Environment Minister said Chinese companies looking to enter India were being met with "alarmist" and "paranoid" policies of the Home Ministry.

An unhappy Chidambaram wrote to the Prime Minister about Ramesh's remarks. Ramesh was reprimanded by the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi for speaking out of turn. The Congress also publicly censured him.

Ramesh met Chidambaram on Wednesday evening for ten minutes in what was seen as a make-good attempt.

What has some speculating about his role in the Cabinet is that Ramesh's term in the Rajya Sabha expires in June. He has to be re-nominated as an MP to stay on as a minister. Also, the government is expected to reshuffle the cabinet after its one-year anniversary later this month. Sources say the party has decided that Ramesh need not exit the cabinet over his China gaffe.