New Delhi:
Ahead of the cabinet reshuffle on Sunday, a series of meetings took place in New Delhi on Saturday. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.
Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan met BJP president Amit Shah at his residence. Pradhan may get higher portfolio in the cabinet.
PM Modi to include nine new faces
As per reports in news agency ANI, nine new ministers will be inducted into cabinet on Sunday.
Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Shiv Paratap Shukla, Virendra Kumar, Anantkumar Hegde, Raj Kumar Singh, Hardeep Singh Puri, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Satya Pal Singh, Alphons Kannanthanam to take oath on Sunday.
Satyapal Singh said that he has not been officially informed, but whatever is party and PM's decision he is ready for it.
"Have always fulfilled responsibilities the party leadership gave me. Thank PM, Amit Shah and senior leaders," said Virendra Kumar.
"Want to thank PM that he trusted me with such a responsibility, it's a chance to work for country," said Gajendra S Shekhawat.
"I will try to justify the faith that PM Modi entrusted to me," said Ashwini Kumar Choubey.
"I will believe the information to be authentic only when I get it from official sources," said Shiv Pratap Shukla.
As per sources, Shankarbhai Vegad, Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat, is also coming to Delhi. He can get a berth in cabinet.
Andhra Pradesh BJP state president and Visakhapatnam MP K Hari Babu may take oath on Sunday. He is on his way to Delhi along with family.
Sources in the party say that party wants to introduce fresh faces in Cabinet. A source said that Karnataka BJP MP Prahalad Joshi and Bagpat MP Satyapal Singh could be inducted in the government.
It is said that Giriraj Singh could be asked to resign while Union minister Uma Bharti has wished to quit citing health reasons.
Source also say that Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari is likely to get Railways and incumbent minister Suresh Prabhu could get the charge of Ministry of Environment.
It is also believed that AIADMK's Thambidurai could be given cabinet berth if his party (AIADMK) joins NDA.
Sources said that Union minister of state for energy Piyush Goyal may get the charge of Ministry of Defence.
JD(U), AIADMK not in list
Earlier, there were reports suggesting that JD(U) and AIADMK may also be included in the cabinet.
However, uncertainty looms large over them joining cabinet as Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has denied about any information regarding inclusion of JD(U) in the cabinet. He asserted that there are no talks about it.
Reports also say that both JD(U) have yet not been apprised about the cabinet reshuffle.
JD(U) MP Kaushalendra Kumar said that it would have been good for Bihar if they would have been included.
Ahead of the reshuffle, three union ministers have resigned from the government. Union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Sanjeev Balyan and Mahendra Nath Pandey tendered their resignation on Thursday.
