A plumber secures a berth in Modi’s new Cabinet

New Delhi, Nov 11: As many as 20 new faces are expected to be inducted into the Union Council of Ministers on Sunday in the first revamp exercise of the Modi Government. Among others, Punjab BJP's Dalit face Vijay Sampla is all set for a Cabinet berth in the reshuffle.

Sampla, a first time Lok sabha member of the party from Hoshiarpur is a grass-roots politician. He had a very humble beginning.

After completing his matriculation, Sampla managed to reach Saudi Arabia where he worked as a plumber, said an India Today report. After some years, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1998.

"If a tea seller's son can become the Prime Minister, why can't a plumber become a Minister. I am grateful to Modi ji and Amit ji for including me in Cabinet," Sampla was quoted as saying in the report.

The Prime Minister called me up, asking me to be ready to become an MoS. I don't have words to express my feelings, he said.
The swearing-in of the new Ministers will take place at 1.030 pm on Sunday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Before the swearing-in ceremony, Modi is hosting a breakfast for the newcomers.

The current strength of the Council of Ministers is 45 - 23 of Cabinet rank, including the Prime Minister, and 22 Ministers of State. Of the 22 MoS, 10 hold Independent Charge.

There is speculation that a couple of ministers could be dropped while a few could be elevated to the Cabinet rank.

OneIndia News