Anticipating heavy burden of election campaign for upcoming general elections in 2014, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has decided to reduce workload on himself as well as some of the senior Ministers in his Cabinet. On the auspicious day of Dhanteras on Friday, he is set to include few more Ministers in his Cabinet.
Modi may induct Ministers from central Gujarat and tribal region, where Congress has a presence. Sources said that Modi is likely to include some parliamentary secretaries too on the same day or a few days later. Currently, there are seven Cabinet Ministers and nine MoS. Modi can have up to 28 Ministers in his Ministry.
Sources said that Modi would include six junior Ministers in his Ministry. “The swearing-in of the new Ministers will take place at 9.30 am on November 1 at Mahatma Mandir,” said State Finance Minister Nitin Patel. Patel, however, declined to give the names of the MlAs who are likely to get a berth in the Cabinet expansion.
If sources close to Modi are to be believed, the Chief Minister is likely to elevate two or three senior MoS to Cabinet rank. MlAs likely to get a berth in the Cabinet after the expansion are son of leuva Patel — Vithal Radadia and Jetpur MlA Jayesh Radadiya, former Minister Vasan Ahir from Kutch district, Shankar Chaudhary from Banaskantha district, Ranjit Gilitwala from Surat city, Chatrasinh Mori from Bharuch district, Moti Vasava from Narmada district to name a few. Modi has appointed chairmen and vice chairmen of various boards and corporations after almost a decade on Tuesday.