Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked tourism minister Subodh Kant Sahai to put in his papers immediately.

Both Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi are livid with Sahai following allegations that he canvassed for coal blocks to be allocated to his relatives.

The move, which comes on the brink of the Cabinet reshuffle, indicates that those involved in Coalgate, including coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal and Congress MP Vijay Darda, may not survive it.

The Prime Minister had reportedly planned to go in for the rejig of his council of ministers this week but it was deferred to early next week on account of the crisis triggered by Trinamool Congress' decision to withdraw support to the government.

DMK member and minister of state for information and broadcasting S. Jagathrakshakan, who is also allegedly involved in the coal scam, may be dropped if DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi approves it.

The reshuffle, sources say, is being planned to strengthen the party ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.