M A I N   N E W S

One minister may head a cluster of ministries
Tribune News Service & PTI

New Delhi, May 25
While there is still no official confirmation on the size and constituents of Narendra Modi’s Council of Ministers, it is now certain that big changes can be expected in the government contours and functioning beginning with downsising.

A statement issued by the Prime Minister-elect’s secretariat from Gujarat Bhawan said one minister will head a cluster of ministries in complimentary sectors.

The statement was a clear indication that Modi is opting for major changes in the structure of the government.

“Focus is on convergence in the activities of various ministries where one Cabinet minister will be heading a cluster of ministries which are working in complementary sectors.”

At the outset, the statement said Modi has made a “dent in formation of ministries”.

“It is a good beginning in transforming entity of assembled ministries to organic ministries. It will bring more coordination between different departments and will be more effective and bring a spee in process,” it said.

This means that Modi is aiming at “maximum governance and minimum government” with downsizing of top layers of government and an expansion at the grass-roots level. For example, Agriculture and Food and Consumer Affairs (two separate ministries) could be clubbed with Chemicals and Fertilizers, an independent ministry.

Similarly, Finance and Corporate Affairs may become one consolidated ministry. There could be a Transport Ministry, which may include surface transport, civil aviation and shipping and perhaps also railways. Though there is also a belief that railways needs to be treated as a separate portfolio, considering its immense size and dimensions.

"However some portfolios such as Urban Development and HUPA; Culture and Tourism; and External Affairs and Overseas Affairs can be easily clubbed, bringing down the expenditure incurred on maintaining each separately," a senior leader said.

A Cabinet minister may have an MoS along with a team of technocrats and experts for ready reference and guidance. Modi is not likely to include veteran LK Advani in his "compact and crisp" council of around 40 ministers, having many new faces. Sources say those who are likely to be administered the oath of secrecy by President Pranab Mukherjee include party president Rajnath Singh and senior leaders Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Nitin Gadkari, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Ananth Kumar, Kalraj Mishra and Venkaiah Naidu.

Smriti Irani, Karia Munda, Uma Bharti, Piyush Goyal, Gen VK Singh (retd) and Sumitra Mahajan - a senior BJP leader from Madhya Pradesh - are among the others likely to be sworn in tomorrow. This means Rajnath Singh, who along with Swaraj and Jaitley will sit in one of the top Raisina Hill ministries, may no longer remain the party president. If he takes over the Home Ministry then Himachal Pradesh leader JP Nadda is expected to fill in the post the party chief.

Known for his organisational skills, Nadda is considered close to the RSS, party's ideological fountainhead. The "behind-the-scene" leader was in charge of the party headquarters in the election days.

The names that seem to have been shortlisted for the Speaker's post include Sumitra Mahajan and Karia Munda.

Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju is likely to be the lone face from the TDP to be inducted in Cabinet. The BJP is also likely to induct its former president Venkaiah Naidu and its MP from Secunderabad, Bandaru Dattatreya, into the Cabinet, the sources say. Anant Gete is expected to be the Sena nominee.

Key posts for Rajnath, Jaitley, Sushma likely

• Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj are likely to get imporant portfolios
• Nitin Gadkari, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Ananth Kumar, Venkaiah Naidu, Uma Bharti and VK Singh are among the others likely to be sworn in
• Veteran LK Advani is unlikely to be included
• Himachal leader JP Nadda may take over as party chief
• For Speaker, the names of Sumitra Mahajan and Karia Munda seem to have been shortlisted.