Modi expands his team, inducts six new ministers

Gandhinagar, Feb 2 (PTI) Gujarat Chief Minister NarendraModi today expanded his Cabinet and inducted six new Ministersof State into his team, keeping an eye on the State Assemblyelections scheduled in December 2012.

Governor Dr Kamla administered the oath of office to thenew ministers at a function held at Rajbhavan here.

Those who have been inducted into the ministry are:Liladhar Vaghela, Ranjit Gilitwala, Mohan Kundaria, JituSukhadia, Ishwarbhai Patel and Jaydrathsinh Parmar.

With State Assembly polls due in 2012, Modi has inductedthree ministers from Central Gujarat region, which isconsidered as a stronghold of Congress. They are Sukhadia fromVadodara, Jaydrathsinh Parmar from Halol and Ishwarbhai Patelfrom Ankleshwar.

Kundaria is MLA from Saurashtra belonging to powerfulPatel community. To give a better representation to SouthGujarat, Ranjit Gilitwala was also taken in. While Vaghelarepresents north Gujarat.

After today''s expansion the strength of Modi ministry hasgone up to 27, which is 15 per cent of total strength of MLAs.

This is seen as a last expansion of the Modi governmentbefore the state assembly elections. .

Portfolios will be allocated to the new ministers after the state cabinet meeting to be held later today, officialsources said.

This is the second expansion of the Modi''s cabinet inthe last five months. Before the crucial local self governingbodies elections, Modi had expanded his cabinet on August 21and inducted four ministers, taking its strength to 21.

Party sources said Modi is also likely to appointleaders to the post of state boards and corporations soon. PTIPB PD DK