Cabinet reshuffle aims Assembly elections
The PM's selection indicates the priority of the PM as the Assembly polls are due next year
New Delhi: The induction of Jayant Sinha is seen as a signal to poll-bound Jharkhand.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inducted former Goa CM Manohar Parrikar and former Shiv Sainik Suresh Prabhu, who was power minister in the Atal Behari Vajpayee government, in the Cabinet along with senior BJP leader J.P. Nadda and Jat leader from Haryana Birender Singh, who joined the BJP ahead of the recent Assembly elections in the state.
With Birendra Singh in, the PM has not only streamlined the dynamics of Haryana politics, but has also sent a strong signal to the Jat community spread over four states, including Delhi, which will go to the polls early next year.
An IIT graduate, 58-year-old Mr Parrikar shares an excellent rapport with Mr Modi and has a reputation for probity and administrative skills. Mr Prabhu also earned his reputation as a skilful operator and a reformer as power minister in the Vajpayee government but was suddenly pulled out of the ministry by the Shiv Sena.
Ever since, he has not been seen as an active Sainik. Inducting three more ministers from Bihar and taking the total strength to seven from the state indicates the priority of the PM as the Assembly polls there is due next year.