Parrikar to be promoted? Goa CM likely to replace Arun Jaitley as Defence Minister

New Delhi, Nov 5: India may soon get a full time Defence Minister as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to expand the union cabinet soon.

If reports are to be believed then Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is said to be the front runner to replace Arun Jaitley as the new Defence Minister of India. At present, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley holds the additional charge of the ministry.

According to media reports, before Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a foreign tour starting November 12, he is likely to expand the union cabinet.

Parrikar, a former RSS man and an IITian is known for his clean image and is also said to be close to the Prime Minister. Parrikar, a soft spoken man, is said to be a tough task master when confronted with governance issues. It is being said that his RSS connection is also a reason behind his getting such a crucial portfolio.

Reports also say, Parrikar will arrive in Delhi today to meet PM Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.​

The Prime Minister is said to visit Varanasi, for two days starting November 7. After that he will proceed on his foreign tour which starts from November 12. And not to forget the dozens of rallies which Narendra Modi is going to address in the poll-bound states of Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir. Thus, it is expected that the cabinet expansion will be be carried out between November 9-11.

If Parrikar becomes the Defence Minister, then Goa's Deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza and Health Minister Laxmikant Parsekar are said to be the front-runners to replace him.

OneIndia News