New Delhi: India may finally get a full time Defence Minister as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to expand the Union Cabinet before he embarks on a foreign tour starting November 12.
According to BJP sources, Modi is likely to appoint Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar as the next Union Defence Minister replacing Arun Jaitley.
Jaitley, who is also the Finance Minister, is likely to relinquish the Defence portfolio before the Winter Session of Parliament that starts on November 24.
A former RSS man and an IITian, has strong credentials to hold one of the most important posts in the government of India as he is known for his clean image and excellent administrative skills. Also, Parrikar shares a good rapport with Modi and had played a critical role in Modi’s elevation as BJP’s prime ministerial candidate last year.
Reports said Parrikar will arrive in Delhi later on Wednesday to meet PM Modi and BJP President Amit Shah. The cabinet expansion will see induction of around a dozen new ministers.
Among other names doing the rounds for a cabinet berth are senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha’s son and Hazaribagh MP Jayant Sinha and Chandrapur BJP Hansraj Ahir who had shot to limelight for exposing the coal scam.
However, old party faithfuls like Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Rajiv Pratap Rudy may also get a look, reports said. Some Ministers of State – Prakash Javadekar and Nirmal Sitharaman – may get elevation to cabinet rank as well.
As Modi is scheduled to visit his parliamentary constituency, Varanasi, for two days starting November 7 and then proceed on his foreign tour, the cabinet expansion is most likely to be carried out between November 9 and 11.