The strength of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Council of Ministers could well cross the 60-figure mark with over 15 new inductions likely on Sunday in the first expansion since the BJP-led NDA stormed into power in May. A big chunk of the portfolios will go to the BJP, which is keeping the regional and caste representations in mind. Ally TDP is to get an additional berth.
However late on Saturday, the Shiv Sena played hardball with the BJP on the deal it gets in Maharashtra amid reports emerging from its camp that it was even contemplating boycotting the swearing-in ceremony at the Centre.Having initially recommended its Rajya Sabha member Anil Desai’s name for a Ministerial berth at the Centre, the party changed tack later in the day and kept the decision on hold. This, after its lone Minister in the Modi Cabinet, Anant Geete failed to meet the Prime Minister. Sources said he was subsequently called back to Mumbai.
If some of the Ministers of State may get elevated to Cabinet ranks, then a few others may have their portfolios changed, based on the Prime Minister’s evaluation of their performance in the Government so far. Heavyweights with the burden of additional charge of big Ministries will also see some load off their shoulders. More than six Ministers are currently holding more than one portfolio.
The current strength of the Council of Ministers is 45 — 23 of Cabinet rank, including the Prime Minister, and 22 Ministers of State. Of the 22 MoS, 10 hold Independent Charge.The swearing-in of the new Ministers will take place at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday 1.30 pm.But before that Modi will host a breakfast for the newcomers in his Government where he is expected to brief them on regime’s immediate priorities to fulfil poll promises and the need to break new grounds in running their Ministries.
The “high-energy performance” required to implement big-ticket reforms, which may be unrolled in Budget 2015, could also be stressed by the Prime Minister in his Sunday meeting, sources said.
Manohar Parrikar, 59, who resigned as Goa Chief Minister during the day, is certain to be given the Defence Ministry, relieving Arun Jaitley, who will retain his Finance portfolio. An IIT-M alumnus and the first Cabinet Minister from Goa, Parrikar shares a good rapport with Modi. He will file nomination for the Rajya Sabha from UP with polls scheduled for November 20. The BJP Parliamentary Board met on Saturday and discussed the issue.
From the BJP camp, the names doing the rounds for Ministerial berths include vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi,57, the minority face of the party; 44-year-old playback singer Babul Supriyo, who won the lok Sabha seat from Asansol, (to represent Bengal) and 68-year-old Bandaru Dattatreya (to represent Telangana). Besides, Giriraj Singh, Ram Kripal Yadav and Rajiv Pratap Tudy (Bihar); Vijay Sampla (a Dalit and to represent Punjab); Moman Bhai Kundria (Gujarat); former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha’s son Jayant Sinha (Jharkhand, which is going to polls this month); Col Sonaram Chaudhary and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (both from Rajasthan); Hansraj Ahir (from Maharashtra who exposed Coal scam); Ramesh Bais (Chhattisgarh); Birender Singh (Jat leader from Haryana) and Ajay Tamta (Uttarakhand).
Though BJP general secretary JP Nadda’s hands are full with party responsibilities as election-in-charge of J&K and member Parliamentary Board, his induction into the Government is not being ruled out.The TDP has named its millionaire Rajya Sabha member YS Chowdhary, while the Shiv Sena has recommended its Upper House MP Anil Desai but whether it will ultimately give him the go-ahead depends on its talks with the BJP over power sharing in Maharashtra.
In a brief interaction with the media outside his residence at Bandra north-central Mumbai, Sena president Uddhav Thackeray: “The picture will become clear at the party legislators’ meeting to be held tomorrow”. The Sena has convened its legislature party meeting at 4 pm on Sunday to formalise its stand on whether or not join the BJP-led Government in the State. The meeting will be held either at the Sena Bhavan or Matoshri.