The swearing-in of Narendra Modi and his ministers on Thursday is likely to be a more spectacular event compared with 2014, with new faces inducted into the cabinet to reflect the Prime Minister’s “New India” push, BJP sources suggested.
Modi had invited Saarc heads of states and governments and a host of business leaders, MPs and representatives of religious communities to his May 26, 2014, swearing-in. With him returning with a bigger mandate, it is widely expected that prominent world leaders would attend his oath-taking ceremony.
The government has, however, been tight-lipped about the probable guest list.
A significant makeover of Modi’s ministry also appears likely. “Modiji’s stress in his second tenure is on building a ‘New India’, and his ministry has to reflect this. We are expecting many new faces,” a BJP insider said.
Party sources said Modi had during a recent meeting with his outgoing ministers indicated he might make major changes to meet the “new challenges” despite the good performance of many of the incumbents.
“All the senior ministers were present when Modiji spoke of the need to bring in new faces,” a senior BJP politician said. “This means that even senior ministers (from the outgoing cabinet) might be kept out.”
Given the huge mandate Modi has received, it would be difficult for even the seniors to protest if they are dropped, the party believes.
Speculation has been swirling about the possibility of Arun Jaitley being denied the finance portfolio because of his health problems.
Modi on Saturday accused the media of running “false reports with ill intention” about possible cabinet selections and asked his flock not to believe them.
On Sunday, Press Information Bureau director-general Sitanshu Kar tweeted: “Reports in a section of media regarding Union minister Shri Arun Jaitley’s health condition are false and baseless. Media is advised to stay clear of rumour mongering.”
BJP Rajya Sabha member Swapan Dasgupta posted a tweet with a picture of Jaitley holding up Dasgupta’s book Awakening Bharat Mata.
“Questions about @arunjaitley health understandable,” Dasgupta wrote. “He is recovering from a bout of heavy medication. But he is still in terrific form and his wit is firmly intact. Needs a little rest to get back his strength. All our good wishes.”
The BJP expects the allies to receive a sizeable representation in the ministry, given the importance Modi attached to taking them along in his speech on Saturday.
Two prominent entrants into the alliance are Nitish Kumar’s JDU, which rejoined the NDA in 2017, and the AIADMK. Two JDU members might receive berths, including one of cabinet rank, sources said.
Modi has also promised to remedy the regional imbalances, so the ministry could see members from all parts of the country, particularly the newly conquered east and the Northeast.
After its stellar performance in Bengal, the BJP will be eyeing the 2021 Assembly polls, so MPs from the state can expect key ministry berths.
At an Ahmedabad rally where Modi and Amit Shah addressed party workers on Sunday, the party president urged the crowd to shout “Bharat Mata ki jai” so loudly that it could be heard in Bengal.
“The President will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the Prime Minister and other members of (the) Union council of ministers on 30.05.2019 at 7pm at Rashtrapati Bhavan,” a communiqué from President Ram Nath Kovind said.
