First-timers who shone bright in Modi cabinet
3 Sept 2014 5:43 AM IST
When prime minister Narendra Modi formed his team, he raised a few eyebrows for giving space to debutants overlooking the claims of many experienced hands.
Some of these first-time ministers were targeted by the opposition and kept under close scrutiny by the media. Despite the handicap of not having previous experience, these ministers have delivered to the satisfaction of their boss and also stakeholders in the ministries they look after.
Narendra Singh Tomar (Steel, Mines, Labour and Employment): The 57-year-old leader from Madhya Pradesh is quietly delivering away from the eyes of media, having ensured higher rate of royalty for states having mines, minimum Rs 1000 pension for provident fund subscribers, handling crisis in Bhilai Steel Plant following the blast which took place soon after he took charge, pushing amendments in the archaic factories act and bringing a plan to reopen shut government mining companies. This is his first ministerial assignment and given no indication of being a beginner.
Smriti Irani (Human Resource Development): The former television actor faced opposition and media brickbats, at times unnecessarily, when prime minister surprised many picking her up to take charge of the important ministry. She successfully rolled back the four year undergraduate programme (FYUP), introduced in Delhi University despite much protest a year earlier, without delaying the session even by a day. She has started the cleansing of educational bodies of the left influence and impact is being felt in the right quarters.
Dharemendra Pradhan (Petroleum and Natural Gas): Given the fact that the BJP made an issue of the increase in gas prices and petroleum products in the run-up to the polls and allegation were leveled by rivals against of hobnobbing with Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries, people were surprised when prime minister handed charge of the sensitive ministry to a relatively junior politician. However, Pradhan so far has managed to keep his ministry out of controversy and also handled issues of pricing of the natural gases and other petroleum products pretty satisfactorily.
Piyush Goyal (Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy ): Like Pradhan, Piyush Goyal as party treasurer too was part of prime minister’s pre-poll team. Though he was expected to be part of the ministry none expected that he would be given a bouquet of several important portfolio. He managed to ward off a major power crisis in the national Capital, when a squall hit the city soon after the government came to power, with hands on approach. With crisis out of coal allocations and shortage of power staring the nation in the face, Goyal has quite a few challenges to handle and has shown some ability to overcome them.
Nirmala Sitharaman (Commerce, Industry and Corporate Affairs): An economist trained at the JNU and London School of Economics, Sitharaman made impact as party’s level-headed spokesperson in the run-up to the polls. She was accommodated in the ministry despite not being a member of parliament. She is also deputy to finance minister Arun Jaitley and has helped drafting the first budget of the Narendra Modi government. With economy in the revival mode, as shown by the rise in GDP rate for the first quarter of this year, some accolades should accrue to her.
Some of these first-time ministers were targeted by the opposition and kept under close scrutiny by the media. Despite the handicap of not having previous experience, these ministers have delivered to the satisfaction of their boss and also stakeholders in the ministries they look after.
Narendra Singh Tomar (Steel, Mines, Labour and Employment): The 57-year-old leader from Madhya Pradesh is quietly delivering away from the eyes of media, having ensured higher rate of royalty for states having mines, minimum Rs 1000 pension for provident fund subscribers, handling crisis in Bhilai Steel Plant following the blast which took place soon after he took charge, pushing amendments in the archaic factories act and bringing a plan to reopen shut government mining companies. This is his first ministerial assignment and given no indication of being a beginner.
Smriti Irani (Human Resource Development): The former television actor faced opposition and media brickbats, at times unnecessarily, when prime minister surprised many picking her up to take charge of the important ministry. She successfully rolled back the four year undergraduate programme (FYUP), introduced in Delhi University despite much protest a year earlier, without delaying the session even by a day. She has started the cleansing of educational bodies of the left influence and impact is being felt in the right quarters.
Dharemendra Pradhan (Petroleum and Natural Gas): Given the fact that the BJP made an issue of the increase in gas prices and petroleum products in the run-up to the polls and allegation were leveled by rivals against of hobnobbing with Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries, people were surprised when prime minister handed charge of the sensitive ministry to a relatively junior politician. However, Pradhan so far has managed to keep his ministry out of controversy and also handled issues of pricing of the natural gases and other petroleum products pretty satisfactorily.
Piyush Goyal (Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy ): Like Pradhan, Piyush Goyal as party treasurer too was part of prime minister’s pre-poll team. Though he was expected to be part of the ministry none expected that he would be given a bouquet of several important portfolio. He managed to ward off a major power crisis in the national Capital, when a squall hit the city soon after the government came to power, with hands on approach. With crisis out of coal allocations and shortage of power staring the nation in the face, Goyal has quite a few challenges to handle and has shown some ability to overcome them.
Nirmala Sitharaman (Commerce, Industry and Corporate Affairs): An economist trained at the JNU and London School of Economics, Sitharaman made impact as party’s level-headed spokesperson in the run-up to the polls. She was accommodated in the ministry despite not being a member of parliament. She is also deputy to finance minister Arun Jaitley and has helped drafting the first budget of the Narendra Modi government. With economy in the revival mode, as shown by the rise in GDP rate for the first quarter of this year, some accolades should accrue to her.
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