Modi 3.0 Govt: All eyes now on portfolio allocation

The third NDA government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was sworn in on Sunday evening.  A total of 72 ministers took the oath, including 34 from the previous council of ministers.

In the new Cabinet, 30 members will hold cabinet rank. This includes members from allied parties like TDP, JD(U), LJP, JDS, and HAM. Now that the ceremony is over, the focus has shifted to assigning portfolios.

The Rashtrapati Bhawan is expected to release the official information soon.

Meanwhile, the first Cabinet meeting with the new ministers will be held on Monday at 5 pm. The government’s focus will now be on their 100-day plan.

Reports suggest that the BJP may keep key portfolios like defence, home, and foreign ministries. They might also keep important portfolios like education and culture, which are significant to the party’s ideology.

Two days before the swearing-in, Modi warned NDA MPs not to believe hoaxes about ministries and portfolios. He mentioned that the “INDI Alliance” could spread “fake news” about these matters.

“I did not find any truth in the rumors. I said one should ask where they get such information from. There has not been such an occasion in the last 10 years, so there will be such excitement. Some people may say they have high contacts and can make you a minister… We fall for it thinking this could be a way to become a minister,” PM Modi said.

There were rumors that Amit Shah, who was the Home Minister, might become the Finance Minister, but the Prime Minister dismissed these reports.