New Delhi: The much-talked about expansion of the Union Cabinet is set to take place tomorrow morning, a top government official said today.
Principal spokesperson of the government Frank Norhona tweeted that "cabinet expansion" will take place tomorrow at 11 AM. As many as 19 new ministers will be inducted.
The long-awaited exercise might see the induction of leaders from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab, all of which go to the polls next year.
Here is the list of probables who could be inducted in cabinet:
Professional Expertise - New Ministers were identified from various walks of life, who would bring to bear their unique rich experience and expertise to their office:
Mr PP Chaudhary is senior Supreme Court advocate with over 4 decades of experience in constitutional litigation
Mr Subhash Ram Rao Bhamre is a well known doctor with a super specialisation in cancer surgery
Mr MJ Akbar is a veteran editor and internationally acclaimed journalist
Mr Arjun Ram Meghwal is a former government officer from Rajasthan with rich administrative experience
Mr Anil Madhav Dave has published multiple books in Hindi and is active in Narmada River Conservation
State Government Experience - State leaders having a hands-on understanding of State and Local-level reality have been identified in particular:
Mr Ramesh Jigajinagi – has been Cabinet Minister of Home in Karnataka
Mr Purshotam Rupala – has been Cabinet Minister of Agriculture in Gujarat
Mr Jaswant Sinh Bhabhor – has been Minister of Tribal Affairs and Rural Development in Gujarat
Mr Mahendra Nath Pandey – has been Minister of Urban Development in Uttar Pradesh
Central Government Experience:
Mr Faggan Kulaste – has been MoS for Tribal Affairs in Govt of India
Mr Vijay Goel – has been MoS for Youth Affairs and Sports in Govt of India
Youth Dynamism – Fresh talent has been identified to bring their own fresh perspective and exuberance:
Mrs Anupriya Singh Patel – comes with a strong academic base (LSR + MBA) as well as strong organisational skills
Mr Mansukh Mandaviya – has spent a long time in Gujarat’s agricultural sector, including heading Gujarat Agro-Industries Corporation
Political Experience - Political veterans have been identified to leverage on their decades of experience and understanding:
Mr Faggan Singh Kulaste - 6 term MP + 1 term MLA
Mr Ramesh Jigajinagi - 5 term MP + 3 term MLA
Mr SS Ahluwalia - 5 term MP
Mr Vijay Goel and Rajan Gohain - 4 term MP
Education – People with strong academic backgrounds have been inducted:
Mr Mahendra Nath Pandey – has a PhD from Banaras Hindu University
Mr Subhash Ram Rao Bhamre – has a Super Specialisation in cancer surgery
Mr CR Chaudhary – studied rural development at University of Birmingham
Social Diversity – People from all communities and social backgrounds have been brought in:
ST – 2 leaders (Mr Jaswant Sinh Bhabhor & Mr Faggan Singh Kulaste)
SC – 5 leaders (Mr Ajay Tamta, Mr Ramdas Athalwale, Mr Arjun Ram Meghwal, Mr Ramesh Jigajinagi & Mrs Krishna Raj)
Minority – 2 leaders (Mr MJ Akbar & Mr SS Ahluwalia)
Women – 2 leaders (Mrs Anupriya Singh Patel & Mrs Krishna Raj)
Geographic Diversity – Leaders have been pulled in from all corners of India:
The 19 Ministers come from more than 10 states - UP, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bengal, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Assam.
The new Ministers are going to be strategically deployed to further the priority areas of the Government.
According to reports, some of the non-performing ministers may be dropped from the cabinet. Minority affairs minister Najma Heptullah, Union HRD minister for state Ram Shankar Katheria, controversial leader and Union minister of state in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers Nihalchand Meghwal could be shown the door. Meghwal was named in a rape case.
Heptulla’s exit will pave the way for the elevation of junior minister for minority affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
At present, there are 66 ministers in the Council including the Prime Minister; as per the Constitution, there can be 82. Sources say PM Modi may induct new faces in his council.
There were talks of cabinet expansion for the past several months amid speculation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi could induct new faces from Uttar Pradesh which is going to polls next year.
There is also a vacancy in the Council of Ministers after Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal became the Chief Minister of Assam.
The PM has held long discussions with BJP president Amit Shah over the last 45 days to finalise the changes which will happen a day before he leaves on a four-nation Africa tour on July 7.
