In a fresh development, Balasore MP and MSME & Animal Husbandry Minister (MoS) in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet, Pratap Sarangi, resigned from his post even as two new faces from Odisha are most likely to find place in the extended Union Cabinet which will be announced later in the evening.
Rajya Sabha MP Ashwini Vaishnav and Mayurbhanj MP Bishweswar Tudu from Odisha are likely to get berths in PM Modi’s council of ministers. The mega cabinet reshuffle in Modi’s second term as Prime Minister is slated to be announced at 6 pm today.
Both Vaishnav and Tudu are among the other hopeful leaders across country to have already arrived at PM Modi’s residence, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, Delhi ahead of the reshuffle announcements.
“I received a call from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to join the oath taking ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan this evening. I have already visited the Prime Minister’s residence and will be present at Rashtrapati Bhavan at 5 am. I am ready to shoulder any responsibility that the Prime Minister entrusts me,” said Tudu.
According to sources, it will be the youngest Cabinet in India’s history with a record representation of OBCs, SCs, STs and more women.
Meanwhile, PM Modi held a meeting at his residence with Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda, Meenakshi Lekhi, Sarbananda Sonowal, Purshottam Rupala, Nisith Pramanik, RCP Singh, Pashupati Paras, and Anurag Thakur, ahead of the reshuffle.
The Union Cabinet, which can have 81 members, currently has 52 ministers. This would mean 29 more ministers can be added. According to party sources, as many as three Ministers of State (MoS) are likely to be promoted as Cabinet Ministers. The reboot will also focus on regions within states, with an eye on polls in five states next year and the 2024 national election.
Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar and Education MInister Ramesh Pokhriyal have already resigned ahead of the reshuffle while some more are likely to follow suit.