New Delhi:
Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, whose Telugu Desam Party is a BJP ally and participates in the central government, has confirmed an expansion of the Narendra Modi cabinet is on the cards.
"You will know details about the cabinet expansion in two days," said Mr Naidu, who walked off the stage for a few minutes during an interview at the World Economic Forum's India summit to attend to a phone call from Prime Minister Modi.
Mr Naidu's comments are the first confirmation of reports that PM Modi will expand his cabinet soon. There has been much speculation that the Prime Minister will induct new ministers on Sunday next, in the first expansion since he took oath along with a slim team of 45 ministers in May.
The Telugu Desam Party or TDP joined the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance just before the national elections earlier this year. Mr Naidu described his relationship with the BJP and their coordination as allies, as "excellent." The TDP has one minister at the Centre.
As Mr Modi met President Pranab Mukherjee today at the presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhawan for "Gurbani" or Sikh prayers to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, speculation about the cabinet expansion became more intense.
There are currently 22 cabinet members and another 22 ministers of state, including 10 with independent charge. Many BJP heavyweights like Nitin Gadkari have charge of multiple ministries. Arun Jaitley doubles up as Finance and Defence Minister.
Manohar Parrikar, the Chief Minister of Goa, has responded cautiously to speculation that he will soon take over one of Mr Jaitley's departments - Defence. After meeting PM Modi in Delhi yesterday, the 58-year-old Mr Parrikar told reporters, "I came here to discuss Goa issues. (Mr Modi) did not say anything about that (becoming a union minister)...you should ask him."
Before returning to Goa today, Mr Parrikar, who also met BJP president Amit Shah, chided reporters for "putting the horse before the cart" and said they should "ask the prime minister."