December 26, 2024 10:24 pm (IST)
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Modi set to have a small Cabinet?
New Delhi, May 25 (IBNS): With just a day left for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister elect Narendra Modi, the list of ministers, who are likely to be inducted into the new Cabinet is expected to be sent to President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday, media reports said.
According to reports, Modi is heading for a small cabinet with merging of ministries.
The last one week witnessed hectic meetings among the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders over the distribution of portfolios.
Eyeing a bigger role, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President Chandrababu Naidu is all set to meet Modi on Sunday.
Earlier on Thursday, Modi checked into New Delhi along with his staff including cook Badri, his personal aides Dinesh Thakur and OP Singh.
Modi moved in to his new home, the Prime Minister's residence at 7, Race Course Road in Delhi, media reports said.
While the cabinet of the incoming Prime Minister still remains subject of speculation, sources said he is mulling downsizing the government and consolidating offices.
Secretaries have been informally asked to give their views on whether some ministries should be clubbed to ensure better coordination and a more efficient government.
According to media reports, the moves could be on the line of bringing the Coal and Power Ministries under a single Energy Ministry - a step that has support of the Power Ministry but opposed by the Coal Ministry.
The signs of bureaucratic rejig comes even as intense speculation continued on his cabinet of ministers - cards that the Prime Minister elect has played very close to his heart.
Top BJP leaders like Arun Jaitley, Arun Shourie and Subramanian Swamy are being considered to head the Finance Minister that will be charged with unveiling plans to revive India's growth.
Jaitley is also being seen as a front-runner for the key External Affairs portfolio while BJP president Rajnath Singh could move to the government to head the crucial Home Ministry.
Meanwhile, former Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj is being considered for the Defence or Human Resource Development Ministries.
BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu is likely to be considered for the Railway Ministry and while Nitin Gadkari may be considered for the Urban Development ministry, media reports said.
Party patriarch L K Advani maybe given a distinguished post either getting his wish to become Lok Sabha Speaker or be made the convenor of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
The government renovation measures come as New Delhi also prepared for an unprecedented swearing-in ceremony scheduled for Monday, May 26 with an extraordinary three-tier security.
Roads near the presidential palace, Rashtrapati Bhawan, are expected to be closed four hours before the event and offices in the area will be shut by noon.
Television reports on Friday quoted an official as saying that the security for the event will be "tighter than the annual Republic Day parade".
Even though most of the arrangements are being overseen by the Delhi Police, along with paramilitary forces, the Air Force and the Army will be "discreetly involved", he said.
Anti-aircraft guns of the air force will be deployed in strategic areas to counter any flying threats.
With a guest list 2,500 people that includes several heads of state including Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Afghan president Hamid Karzai and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, security for the event has been a nightmare for officials.
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