Modi, Shah deliberate over new cabinet ahead of swearing-in ceremony; hold 5-hour long meet

The leaders are understood to have discussed the contours of the new government which will be sworn in on Thursday along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi who led the NDA to a thumping majority in the crucial parliamentary polls.

Image: PTI

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah held a long meeting on Tuesday which lasted for about five hours to deliberate on the formation of the new Union cabinet. About 20% of the ministers in the cabinet are likely to be replaced, sources have claimed, while Shah may also hold a portfolio. The leaders are understood to have discussed the contours of the new government which will be sworn in on Thursday along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi who led the NDA to a thumping majority in the crucial parliamentary polls. There is a view within the BJP that Shah may join the government after playing a crucial role in the party's return to power with an unprecedented majority. Shah has refrained from commenting on the matter. Though there was no official word on what transpired in their meeting but both leaders are believed to have discussed the formation of the second Modi government, including choices for ministerial berths and portfolios. Sources suggested the new council of ministers will reflect the saffron party's rise in strength in states like West Bengal and Telangana. Many leaders are of the view that most key members of the previous dispensation could be retained. There has been speculation that Arun Jaitley, who held the finance portfolio in the previous government, may opt out due to health reasons but people close to him have insisted that he has been doing well after undergoing treatment. A number of senior faces from the outgoing cabinet including Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Piyush Goyal, Narendra Singh Tomar and Prakash Javadekar are expected to figure in the new cabinet. As far as allies are concerned, both the Shiv Sena and the JD(U) are expected to get two berths (one cabinet and one MoS) each, while the LJP and the SAD may be given one berth each. Many leaders are of the view that most key members of the previous dispensation could be retained. Lok Janshakti Party on Tuesday passed a resolution, recommending its president Ram Vilas Paswan as the party's representative in the Modi government. The AIADMK, which was also not part of the previous government, won only one seat. It may be given a ministerial berth as it is in power in Tamil Nadu and a key Dravidian ally of the BJP. (Additional inputs from PTI)