The Hindu : Front Page : New faces in Modi Ministry

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Saturday, Jan 05, 2008
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New faces in Modi Ministry

Manas Dasgupta

GANDHINAGAR: An 18-member two-tier ministry was was sworn in on Friday in Gujarat under Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Nine of the Ministers are of Cabinet rank.

Mr Modi has introduced some new faces and dropped some members of his previous Cabinet who have been re-elected. There are changes in portfolios too. Governor Nawal Kishore Sharma administered the oath of office and secrecy to the Ministers on the sprawling lawns of the Assembly in the presence of the Chief Minister and a large number of dignitaries.

In a surprise move, Mr. Modi has dropped senior leader Ashok Bhatt from the ministry. Mr Bhatt, who was re-elected from Khadia for the eighth consecutive time, has found a berth in the Cabinet ever since the BJP came to power in the State in 1995. A close confidant of the Chief Minister, Mr. Bhatt was the Health Minister in the previous Ministry. Party sources, however, said he was likely to be made the Speaker.

Another surprise omission was that of the Minister of State for Industries, Anil Patel.While six more re-elected members of the last Cabinet did not find a berth this time, Mr Modi has inducted nine new faces.

Among them Nitin Patel, Jaynarayan Vyas and Fakirbhai Waghela, who were in the Keshubhai Patel Ministry, and Dillip Sanghani get Cabinet rank. Vasan Ahir, Mayaben Kodnani, Jaisinh Chauhan, Kiritsinh Rana and Parbat Patel are the new ministers of state.

Senior members Vajubhai Vala, Anandiben Patel, Narottam Patel, Mangubhai Patel and Ramanlal Vora have been re-inducted.

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