From CK Nayak
Narendra Modi’s first cabinet likely to be compact
New Delhi: The North Eastern region of the country, where the BJP-led NDA has performed exceptionally well in the recent Lok Sabha elections, might get a sizeable representation in the Narendra Modi cabinet, but the elected members of Parliament from the region might have to wait till the first expansion of the council of ministers before the next Lok Sabha session in June.
In Monday’s swearing-in ceremony, Neiphiu Rio, who won the elections in Nagaland and resigned from the Chief Minister’s post, is almost certain to get a berth in the new government.
Veteran Purno A Sangma, who made a comeback to national politics from the Tura seat, is also likely to get a berth in the Modi cabinet.
However, it is uncertain whether Sangma would be sworn-in on Monday or in the first reshuffle.
Both Meghalaya Governor KK Paul and Chief Minister Mukul Sangma are attending the swearing-in ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Top-notch Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Manmohan Singh will attend the same.
Purno, whose candidature for the last Presidential election was supported by the NDA, met Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi in Gujarat soon after the Lok Sabha results were announced. He was also a member of the Constitutional Amendment Commission which brought landmark changes like limiting the size of the ministry, while he was in the NCP which was not a part of the Vajpayee government. Political observers emphasized that after the ruling Congress and Asom Gana Parishad got a drubbing in the hands of the BJP in Assam from where seven party candidates were elected to the Lok Sabha, the new government at the Centre should have a ‘substantial representation’ from the most ‘politically powerful’ state in the North East. Either Bijoya Chakravarty, a former Union Minister, or Sarbananda Sonowal, might get a berth in the Ministry, albeit in a junior rank.
Kiren Rijiju who won on BJP ticket from Arunachal Pradesh is also likely to get a chance in the ministry.
However, everybody is keeping their fingers crossed since Modi’s first ministry is likely to be compact. BJP too has won many seats and there are several ministerial aspirants within the party.