By including two more Ministers of States (MoS) from Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed a balancing act for his home-State in context to castes and regions. The Modi Cabinet’s expansion on Sunday gave Gujarat its due as now five Ministers including two Cabinet ranked are representing the State. last but not the least, Modi himself moved from Gujarat, though he represents the parliamentary seat from Varanasi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi included two MPs from Gujarat — Mohan Kundariya and Haribhai Chaudhry as Minister of State. The first time MP from important Rajkot lok Sabha constituency, Kundariya is representing powerful Kadava Patel community. The four time MP Chaudhry has elected with sizable margin from Banaskantha constituency in north Gujarat. Member of Parliament from tribal influenced Bharuch constituency, Mansukh Vasava was already included as MoS.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Irani are Members of Rajya Sabha from Gujarat and they are already playing important role in the Modi Government. Modi himself fought from Vadodara and Varanasi simultaneously in the last lok Sabha elections and won from both the constituencies with huge margins. However, the former Gujarat Chief Minister strategically decided to retain Varanasi seat in Uttar Pradesh and resigned from Vadodara seat.
Modi’s selection of Ministers from his home State is also strategic. Tribal leader Vasava represents central and south Gujarat region as well as tribal people which form nearly 14 per cent of Gujarat’s population. Kudaria, former four time MlA from Tankara constituency in important Saurashtra region. Kundaria represents Kadava Patel community. Just like Uttar Pradesh is to lok Sabha in terms of the number of seats, Saurashtra region sends the maximum 58 MlAs to the 182-member Gujarat Assembly. He has interest in Morbi’s famous ceramic industry too.
Banaskantha MP Chaudhry represents North Gujarat belt as well as powerful Chaudhry community in the region. The four time MP is also known Modi supporter.