Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi took a dig that there are lots of Modi involved in distributing portfolios to the new government. Speculation is rife with this assumption that composition of Modi’s new cabinet would have Assembly elections of Jharkhand, Haryana, Delhi and West Bengal in mind besides development and core issues of the BJP.

 

 It will have development strategy, aspiration of youths, farm distress, rural development, infrastructure and energy at the core. It is being said that from the top four ministries home ministry might either go to Amit Shah or will remain with Rajnath Singh. Name of Shah is also doing round for finance ministry as the PM is not in favour of giving finance to Piyush Goyal.

 

In case Amit Shah joins Union cabinet, J P Nadda is tipped to be made party president. Bhupendra Yadav is another name for the same. In that tricky situation heavy weights like Rajnath Singh would be given equally important portfolio like HRD, Road Transport or Highways. Rajnath Singh is also being considered for the responsibility of Lok Sabha Speaker.

 

Keeping opposition’s agenda against defence deals in mind, the portfolio may be either kept with Nirmala Sitharaman or may be given to a leader with a stature. Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to get either external affairs ministry or HRD ministry if Sushma Swaraj refuses to take ministerial responsibility. Some new names like former IAS officer Aprajita Sarangi, young leader from Karnataka Tejashwi Surya and a few from West Bengal and Odisha might be inducted in the Modi government. Vijay Goel may be dropped and Manoj Tewari or Meenakshi Lekhi may be inducted. 

 

Dharmendra Pradhan is unlikely to get petroleum ministry again as PM is apparently not happy with his performance in Odisha Assembly elections. Kiren Rijiju or Piyush Goyal may replace Pradhan. Defeats of Sambit Patra and Jai Panda with very low margin are being attributed to Pradhan’s tactics.

 

Nitin Gadkari may be given another infra portfolio except Road Transport and Highways. He may be drafted into Railways or Shipping or both if he is not entrusted with the responsibility of defence.

 

Having defeated Rahul Gandhi in Gandhi bastion Amethi, Smriti Irani has proved to be a fighter and likely to be rewarded a good portfolio. Though she had best portfolio last time but she will get a better one. She might be considered for important portfolios like HRD, Health or even for Commerce.  Media in-charge of the BJP Anil Baluni is likely to get either information and broadcasting ministry or shifted to Uttarakhand as CM and Trivendra Singh Rawat will be brought to Delhi. Rajyawardhan Singh Rathore to retain I&B if Baluni is not brought in.