Coming to Delhi, says Parrikar; Cabinet expansion on Sunday
8 Nov 2014 5:12 AM IST
Manohar Parrika likely to be sworn in on Sunday alongwith a few others. Parrikar on Thursday said, ‘I will accept any assignment given by the Prime Minister. The party has told me that I must accept any decision of the PM.’ PM Modi reportedly wants a new defence minister so that Arun Jaitley - who has charge of two critical portfolios, finance and defence - can focus on the government’s first Budget, to be presented in coming February.
The finance ministry could also get a new minister of state to assist Jaitley and the name of Jayant Sinha is doing the rounds. Jayant is the son of former finance minister Yashwant Sinha and also belongs to Jharkhand, where elections are due next month.The other possible candidates in the soon to be finalized extended cabinet are: BJP leader Anurag Thakur and Anil Desai of the Shiv Sena could be inducted as a second minister from that party as part of the BJP-Sena negotiations in Maharashtra.
Former aviation minister former Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi are also likely to get some portfolio, while a few ministers of state with independent charge including Prakash Javadekar (I&B and environment) and Nirmala Sitharaman (minister of state for commerce) might get promoted to the cabinet rank. There could also be redistribution of ministries to relieve senior ministers who are holding multiple portfolios like Nitin Gadkari - transport and rural development - and Ravi Shankar Prasad - ministry of communications and information technology and ministry of law and justice.
There has reportedly been a performance based assessment of ministers and at least two, said sources, could get the axe on account of a poor showing. Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu too is expecting another minister in Modi’s cabinet. The government has unofficially conveyed to the President that there will an oath ceremony for new ministers on Sunday, sources said. An official intimation is expected by Saturday.
The finance ministry could also get a new minister of state to assist Jaitley and the name of Jayant Sinha is doing the rounds. Jayant is the son of former finance minister Yashwant Sinha and also belongs to Jharkhand, where elections are due next month.The other possible candidates in the soon to be finalized extended cabinet are: BJP leader Anurag Thakur and Anil Desai of the Shiv Sena could be inducted as a second minister from that party as part of the BJP-Sena negotiations in Maharashtra.
Former aviation minister former Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi are also likely to get some portfolio, while a few ministers of state with independent charge including Prakash Javadekar (I&B and environment) and Nirmala Sitharaman (minister of state for commerce) might get promoted to the cabinet rank. There could also be redistribution of ministries to relieve senior ministers who are holding multiple portfolios like Nitin Gadkari - transport and rural development - and Ravi Shankar Prasad - ministry of communications and information technology and ministry of law and justice.
There has reportedly been a performance based assessment of ministers and at least two, said sources, could get the axe on account of a poor showing. Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu too is expecting another minister in Modi’s cabinet. The government has unofficially conveyed to the President that there will an oath ceremony for new ministers on Sunday, sources said. An official intimation is expected by Saturday.
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