Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today said a cabinet expansion of the Congress led UPA-2 government is under consideration.

Dr. Singh said this on board Prime Minister’s special Aircraft Air India-1, while returning home from Bangkok, after his succesful two-nation visit to Japan and Thailand. Asked by reporters whether the Congress will reach out to the Left and Mamata Banerjee for UPA-III, Dr. Singh said there are no permanent allies and no permanent enemies in politics.

Dr. Manmohan Singh criticised the Opposition for adopting an obstructionist role in Parliament.

He also dismissed media reports that there is any difference of opinion between him and Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Dr. Singh said both of them work together on almost all issues.

On the spot fixing case, the Prime Minister expressed concern over the latest IPL scandal saying politics and sports should not get mixed up. He however refused to comment further as the issue is under investigation.

Speaking to reporters Dr. Singh also said, inflation is expected to further reduce in the coming months.

Terming his visit to Japan and Thailand as successful, Dr. Singh hoped the civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Japan will be signed next year.

The Prime Minister said India’s Look East policy has started paying rich dividends and huge investments are being made in the infrastructure sector.

During the visit Dr. Singh held detailed discussions with the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe and his Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra on a host of issues to further deepen and diversify cooperation.

The Japanese Prime Minister, pledged a loan of over 353 billion US dollars for eight rail projects in India.

This includes the 71 billion dollar loan for the Mumbai Metro Line third Project.

Following delegation level talks with the Thai Prime Minister to boost bilateral cooperation, India and Thailand signed seven agreements including an extradition treaty.