PM Modi will meet his new ministers today over tea and 'dhokla'. (Photo: PTI)
Speculation continues about which leaders, from the BJP and its allies at the Centre, will find a place among Prime Minister Narendra Modi's group of ministers today. The first expansion of the Union Cabinet, since the BJP-led government took charge on May 26, will be held today and several new ministers are expected to be sworn-in later in the day.
Here are the latest updates
The Cabinet expansion, which will be held at the Durbar Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, is expected to begin at 1.30 pm today, sources said. The list of new ministers is expected to balance regional aspirations and electoral considerations.
The BJP's Parliamentary Board, a body comprising top party leaders, met in Delhi on Saturday, purportedly to discuss the Cabinet expansion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on his way back from his constituency Varanasi, did not attend the meeting, which was chaired by BJP chief Amit Shah.
Manohar Parrikar, who is tipped to become the country's next Defence Minister, resigned as the Chief Minister of Goa on Saturday afternoon.
The Shiv Sena and the BJP failed to reach an agreement on their relationship in Maharashtra till late on Saturday night - which means that when the Prime Minister's Cabinet is enlarged, a leader from the Sena is unlikely to be among the new ministers.
Singer-turned-BJP Member of Parliament Babul Supriyo, who pulled off a big surprise win in the Lok Sabha polls from Asansol seat in West Bengal, may become the sole representative from the state in PM Modi's Cabinet.
Rajya Sabha lawmaker YS Chowdary of the Telugu Desam Party or TDP, whose name was recommended by party chief Chandrababu Naidu, is also expected to become a part of PM Modi's Cabinet.
Also in the list of probable new ministers are Giriraj Singh and Ramkirpal Yadav of Bihar, which will vote for a new assembly next year. Both the BJP lawmakers represent powerful Bihar vote-banks. Another leader from Bihar, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, may also get a ministerial berth, said sources.
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, BJP spokesman for a long time and one of the party's most prominent Muslim faces, could also be made a minister, sources said.
Olympic Silver medalist Rajyawardhan Rathore is a hot contender to become minister. He won from Rajasthan in the national election; the state gave all 25 parliamentary seats to the BJP, but has only one central minister right now.
Ahead of the swearing-in, Prime Minister Modi will meet all of those who will be inducted over "tea and dhokla" and is expected to deliver a pep talk before they leave for Rashtrapati Bhavan.
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