Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expanded his Cabinet by inducting six Ministers of State. The expansion aimed at strengthening the State BJP’s poll prospects as Modi tried to balance representations of region and caste in his Ministry.
Prior to expansion, the Modi Government had seven Cabinet Ministers and nine MoS. With the inclusion of six junior Ministers including Jaswantsinh Thakor, Dilip Thakor, Chhatrasinh Mori,Vasan Ahir, Jaydrathsinh Parmar and Jayesh Radadia, the total strength has increased to 22 in a House of 182.
Of the newly inducted Ministers, five previously served as MOS in previous Modi Government. Thirty-two-year-old Radadia, son of mighty leuva Patel leader Vithal Radadia, who four months back had left Congress and joined BJP is a new face in the Modi’s Ministry. Governor Dr Kamla Beniwal administered the oath of office and secrecy in the presence of Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Speaker Vajubhai Vala in the morning.
Their portfolios were announced late in the evening. Bhabhor, a tribal leader and MlA from limkheda constituency in Dahod district has been given Forest and Environment as well as tribal development. Chansama MlA from North Gujarat Thakor was given Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Cow Protection, stationary and printing. Chhatrasinh Mori, who represents Jambusar constituency in Bharuch District, from where Sonia Gandhi’s political advisor Ahmed Patel belongs to, is given Food and Civil supplies and Consumer Affairs. Anjar MlA in Kutch district, Vasan Ahir, an economically strong leader belongs to Yadav community from Kutch will take care of Cottage and Salt industries. Halol MlA from Central Gujarat, Jaydrathsinh Parmar, who is from Rajput community, is given Road and Building and the youngest member in the Modi Cabinet Radadia, who elected from Jetpur constituency in Rajkot district, will look after tourism and Civil Aviation.
Political sources in Gujarat said that Modi, the BJP’s prime ministerial aspirant, is criss-crossing India more frequently ahead of the 2014 lok Sabha elections, has not only reduced burden on himself but also tried to give representations to different sections of societies in his Ministry, especially from those areas where Congress is having relatively better positions.
Few days back, Modi had also appointed chairmen and vice-chairmen in various boards and corporations where political appointments were not
done over a decade. If sources are to be believed, Modi is expected to appoint few more BJP leaders in various boards and corporation in near future.
