Narendra Modi’s cabinet: Jaitley, Gadkari to be frontrunners?

New Delhi: Discussions on formation of government gained momentum with BJP leaders, including Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi, being engaged in a series of meetings here on Friday. Modi, who will be sworn in on May 26, held a meeting with senior leaders including party chief Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari and Arun at Gujarat Bhawan.

The meeting of the BJP leaders, who have emerged as the core decision-making group within the party since the elevation of Modi, is believed to have discussed the composition of Modi's Council of Ministers.

Earlier in the day, Akali Dal chief and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy-CM son Sukhbir Badal met Rajnath Singh at his residence. Akali Dal, one of the oldest BJP allies, may land a berth in Union council of ministers.

Significantly, RSS leader Ram Madhav also met Rajnath Singh at his residence amid the impression that the Sangh fountainhead will have important say in the formation of the Council of Ministers.

Modi landed in the capital on Thursday evening after handing over the chief ministership of Gujarat to loyalist Anandiben Patel.

BJP plans to organise a grand event for Modi's coronation but a controversy has already erupted over the invite sent out to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the ceremony.

MDMK chief Vaiko, a BJP ally, met Modi as well as Singh on Friday urging them to reconsider the decision to invite Rajapaksa for the swearing-in.

With just 3 days to go before Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony as India’s prime Minister, speculations are rife over the portfolios that will be allotted to the leaders. According to sources, Modi is working on a 'compact cabinet'.

Arun Jaitley is likely to head the Finance Ministry while Sushma Swaraj and Murli Manohar Joshi are likely to get one of the 4 portfolios that form the Cabinet Committee on Security, according to multiple television reports. Former party president Nitin Gadkari may head the Energy portfolio, it added.

While former Army Chief General VK Singh may be made the Minister of State for Defence, NDA allies like Ram Vilas Paswan may get the Health or Agriculture portfolio.

There have been talks that the BJP is likely to get a new head with JP Nadda taking over as the chief of the party if Rajnath Singh is included in Modi's cabinet, according to reports. Rajnath is likely to be inducted in the government as the Home Minister.

Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi is in Delhi to resume discussions regarding his Cabinet formation. Modi along with his Cabinet are due to take oath of office on May 26 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.