Cabinet reshuffle: More women representatives, 43 leaders expected to be sworn-in as Union Ministers

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet reshuffle, the first in his second term, will likely be announced at 6 pm. It is expected that at least forty ministers are likely to be sworn in today. The new cabinet is expected to have more women representation as well as representatives from OBCs, SCs, and STs in the new cabinet. As per media reports, the average age of the leaders is likely to be the lowest in the history of Independent India.

Ahead of the Union Cabinet expansion on Wednesday evening, ministerial probables met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence.

Those meeting Modi included- BJP’s Narayan Rane, Sarbananda Sonowal, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Ajay Bhatt, Bhupender Yadav, Shobha Karandlaje, Sunita Duggal, Meenakshi Lekhi, Bharati Pawar, Shantanu Thakur and Kapil Patil, JD(U)’s R C P Singh, LJP’s Pashupati Paras, and Apna Dal’s Anupriya Patel.

Some ministers of state, including G Kishan Reddy, Parshottam Rupala, and Anurag Thakur, were also there, and they may be elevated, sources said. Sources added that around 43 persons, including those getting a promotion, may take the oath, and they will be a mix of youth and those with administrative experience, including former chief ministers.

Union ministers R K Singh, Mansukh Mandaviya, and Hardeep Singh Puri may also be promoted, they said. BJP president J P Nadda was present during the meetings. The expansion exercise is scheduled to be held at 6 pm at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Sources added that around 43 persons, including those getting a promotion, may take the oath, and the team will be a mix of youth and those with administrative experience, including former chief ministers.

Virendra Kumar, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Pankaj Choudhary, SPS Baghel, Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, Darshana Jardosh, Annpurna Devi, AR Narayana Swami, Kaushal Kishor, BL Verma, Ajay Kumar, Pratima Bhoumik, Bhagwant Khuba, Subhash Sarkar, Bhagwat Kisanrao Karad, Bharti Pawar, John Barla and Nishit Pramanik were also among those who met Modi in the morning.

Ministers resign

Amid the buzz that Modi may also drop some ministers, Union minister Santosh Gangwar and Minister of State for Women and Child Development Debasree Chaudhuri have quit.

Minister of State for Education Sanjay Dhotre resigned from Union Cabinet.

Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ resigned from his post citing health reasons

Sadananda Gowda resigned as Union minister.

MoS Environment Babul Supriyo resigned from Union Council of Ministers ahead of the cabinet reshuffle

Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan resigned from the Modi cabinet

This will be the first reshuffle in his Council of Ministers by Modi since he assumed charge for a second term in May 2019. The prime minister is expected to bring in young faces and give representation to various social groups and regions in the reshuffle.