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| Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs his first Union Cabinet meeting at the start of his third term, in New Delhi on Monday. (PMO) |
New Delhi, June 11, 2024: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third government prioritized continuity over coalition dharma as it allocated crucial Cabinet portfolios to prominent ministers of the previous government. However, the BJP appeared to have adjusted to the new reality, according to observers, by giving greater representation to its allies in the council of ministers.
Cabinet Portfolios: Key Highlights
- The composition of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) remains unchanged, with Rajnath Singh (Defence), Amit Shah (Home Affairs), Nirmala Sitharaman (Finance), and S. Jaishankar (External Affairs) retaining their portfolios.
- Several new faces were inducted, including JP Nadda (Health), Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Agriculture), and Manohar Lal Khattar (Housing and Urban Affairs, Power).
- Portfolios of ministers like Mandaviya, Joshi, Scindia, Shekhawat, and Rijiju were changed.
- PM Modi will oversee Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy, and Space, along with portfolios not allocated.
Allies Accommodated, But BJP Dominates
- NDA allies like TDP's Ram Mohan Naidu (Civil Aviation), LJP's Chirag Paswan (Food Processing Industries), and JD(S)'s H.D. Kumaraswamy (Heavy Industries, Steel) were inducted as Cabinet ministers.
- However, key portfolios remained with the BJP, with allies getting "leftovers," according to National Conference's Omar Abdullah.
Continuity and Change
While several ministers retained their portfolios, like Nitin Gadkari (Road Transport and Highways), Piyush Goyal (Commerce and Industry), and Dharmendra Pradhan (Education), there were also changes. Ashwini Vaishnaw added Information and Broadcasting to his existing portfolios, and Hardeep Singh Puri retained Petroleum and Natural Gas.
The cabinet reshuffle aimed to strike a balance between continuity and change, accommodating allies while retaining the BJP's dominance in key decision-making bodies.
