Amid indications that the Cabinet would be “a compact one,” Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi on Friday held a comprehensive meeting with BJP chief Rajnath Singh and senior party leaders Arun Jaitley, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari on Government formation.
Modi, who will be sworn in on May 26, met the leaders at Gujarat Bhawan, his residence until he shifts to7, Race Course Road, the permanent residence of the Prime Minister.While all BJP bigwigs are expected to join the Modi Cabinet, the allocation of Portfolios continued to invite wild speculation.
“The number of Ministers may be restricted to 14 to 20,” a senior party leader said, adding “technocrats” may also find their way into the Modi Cabinet.“There could be less Cabinet Ministers and more Ministers of State to give place to young talent in the NDA alliances,” sources said.Names doing the rounds include, Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Nitin Gadkari, Ravi Shankar Prasad, and Arun Shourie.
Senior BJP leaders from States who are also in the race for a Cabinet berth include Kalraj Mishra (UP), Narendra Singh Tomar and Sumitra Mahajan (both from MP).State units have been asked to provide names of potential candidates.
Earlier in the day, Akali Dal chief and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy-CM son Sukhbir Badal met Rajnath Singh at his residence. Akali Dal, one of the oldest BJP allies, may land a berth in the Union Council of Ministers.
Significantly, RSS leader Ram Madhav also met Rajnath Singh at his residence amid the impression that the Sangh fountainhead will have a significant say in the formation of the Council of Ministers.Modi landed in the Capital on Thursday evening after handing over the Chief Ministership of Gujarat to loyalist Anandiben Patel.
The BJP plans to organise a mega event, with 3,000 guests expected, for Modi’s swearing-in, but a controversy has already erupted over the invite sent out to Sri lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the ceremony. MDMK chief Vaiko, a BJP ally, met Modi as well as Rajnath on Saturday urging them to reconsider the decision to invite Rajapaksa for the swearing-in.