In a sign of continuity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday retained Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman and S Jaishankar in charge of the four high-profile ministries (Home, Defence, Finance and External Affairs) respectively in his new government. The four ministers in charge of these portfolios constitute a crucial Cabinet Security Committee headed by the Prime Minister.
Among the new members of the Union cabinet, former Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan got the Agriculture and Rural Development ministries, while BJP president JP Nadda returned to the Health Ministry, a portfolio he held for the first term of the Modi government before becoming the labor minister. BJP president.
Nitin Gadkari is credited with boosting the road network across the country and has retained the charge of the Ministry of Highways and Road Transport. Former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has been given the Housing, Urban Affairs and Power ministries. Ashwini Vaishnaw, a rising star in the government who was in charge of crucial ministries of Railways, Electronics and Information Technology, has not only retained these portfolios but has also been given the all-important Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Dharmendra Pradhan and Piyush Goyal will also continue to head the ministries of Education, Commerce and Industry respectively. Hardeep Singh Puri has retained the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas but has gotten rid of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
HD Kumaraswamy of JD (Secular) has been given the Heavy Industries and Steel ministries. Jitan Ram Manjhi of HAM-Secular will oversee the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. Janata Dal-United’s Lalan Singh has been entrusted with the Panchayati Raj, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Ministries. Also, TDP’s K Rammohan Naidu will head the Civil Aviation Ministry, while LJP leader Chirag Paswan (Ram Vilas) will be in charge of the Food Processing Industries Ministry.