Modi's cabinet to include Rajnath, Jaitley and GadkariTop Stories

May 15, 2014 11:57
Modi's cabinet to include Rajnath Jaitley and Gadkari},{Modi's cabinet to include Rajnath Jaitley and Gadkari

(Image source from: Modi's cabinet to include Rajnath Jaitley and Gadkari})

With less than 48 hours left for the elections results to be declared on May 16, the BJP top brass has started to hold meetings on who would be included in Narendra Modi's cabinet at the Union government. The initial huddle saw BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi hold meeting with leaders like Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley and Nitin Gadkari.

Exit poll results by most research groups have predicted a majority for the BJP-led-NDA after the national elections that ended on May 12. Narendra Modi is set to be the next prime minister if the NDA gets the required majority in the parliament.

Inorder to smoothen the process of government formation and to remove the disagreements before the election results are declared on Friday, the BJP's top brass has started the process to decide as to who would be part of the new cabinet in NDA-led government.

Based on the trend in Gujarat, it's likely that Modi's A-team will be lean one, much smaller than it has been seen in recent years at the centre.

According to reports, the cabinet ministers will be chosen from political heavyweights from BJP and its partners in NDA. Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley and Nitin Gadkari are expected to be part of the new cabinet.

Arun Jaitley will probably get the finance portfolio, irrespective of his performance (victory or defeat) in Amritsar, where he's contesting against former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh.

Rajnath Singh, BJP president at present, may be put in charge of home or defence ministry, in case he wants to  give up the party post. Singh would have the final say in the decision.

Sushma Swaraj, currently the leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, is also in the reckoning for a berth in the cabinet. Her portfolio is dependent on  Rajnath Singh. If Singh opts for home,  then Swaraj could get defence.

Nitin Gadkari is also a fore-runner for the defence ministry. He has been angling for an important portfolio in the new government. In that case Swaraj could be entrusted with external affairs.

Ravi Shankar Prasad is most likely to be put in charge of law ministry.

Modi's cabinet will also include names from the Vajpayee Cabinet. However, LK Advani and Jaswant Singh will not be part of the cabinet ministers. Advani, due to his seniority, will not be a part of the cabinet as that would mean working under Modi and Jaswant has left the BJP.

Even technocrats are tipped to be part of the new dispensation. E Sreedharan, former DMRC managing director, credited for the success of Delhi Metro may be Minister of State for Railways, while economist Arvind Panagariya is likely to be appointed chairman of the PM's Economic Advisory Council.

Modi's right hand Amit Shah, former MoS Home in Gujarat, is not likely to get a berth in the NDA cabinet, according to reports. Shah is likely to devote time in party role and help the BJP to fight a number of tough Assembly elections. Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand will go into assembly elections in year end, while Bihar will choose its next government in early 2015.

(Picture Source: ndtv.com)
(AW: Pratima Tigga)

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