In Modi Cabinet reshuffle, no AIADMK, JD(U) and Shiv Sena

Before the six resignations, there were 72 ministers in Mr Modi’s Council of Ministers.

There are no JD(U), Shiv Sena or AIADMK names in the Modi Cabinet reshuffle. The JD(U) had indicated on Saturday that there have been no talks on the reshuffle and it is unlikely to join the Cabinet.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said in Patna on Saturday, "There was no talk of JD(U) joining the Union Cabinet. No talks were held on the issue (between the BJP and JD-U)".

BJP chief Amit Shah met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday evening to finalise the reshuffle, and there were indications that besides the JD(U), Shiv Sena is also unlikely to join the government. Chances of the AIADMK, which recently merged its two factions, joining the Cabinet also remain dim.

In the lead up to the reshuffle, six ministers have resigned so far - Kalraj Mishra, Bandaru Dattatreya, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Sanjiv Kumar Balyan, Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahindra Nath Pandey. The fate of water resources minister Uma Bharti hangs in the balance.

Before the six resignations, there were 72 ministers in Modi's Council of Ministers. Of these, 24 were Cabinet rank, 12 ministers of state (independent charge), and 36 ministers of state. The total strength of the Council of Ministers cannot exceed 81. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray also said in Mumbai that he had received no information from the BJP.

In the case of the AIADMK, however, their internal squabbles are proving to be the stumbling block in its joining the government.

OneIndia News