While Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Cabinet resigned on Friday with the PM likely to take oath of office on May 30, rumour was rife that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is unlikely to be a minister in the new Modi government, as he may travel overseas for treatment.
The Union Cabinet met on Friday and passed a resolution advising the President to dissolve the 16th Lok Sabha. But Jaitley did not attend the meeting as he was reportedly unwell.
He, however, took a meeting of top finance ministry officials at his home, where he discussed the Union Budget to be presented by the new government and how to implement the BJP's election manifesto. The meeting lasted about an hour.
"It was the last day of the first term of the government. Jaitley met the key officials of the ministry. He also discussed with them the roadmap for the economy and current economic scenario," an official close to the development said.
Jaitley, a top BJP leader, was not seen at the victory celebrations at the party headquarters on Thursday, the day of the election results, as he had just been discharged from AIIMS, where he was admitted for a day for an undisclosed illness.
Jaitley also extended the term of the task force set up to simplify the Direct Tax Code by another two months until July 31.
Finance secretary Subhash Chandra Garg, revenue secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey were among those attended the meeting. Enforcement Directorate chief Sanjay Kumar Mishra was also present.
Meanwhile, BJP president Amit Shah asked party's elected representatives party to attend a meeting at Parliament's Central Hall on Saturday to elect their leader.
"Deliberations on selecting new ministers have started already as four ministers — Manoj Sinha, Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, Hardeep Singh Puri and Pon Radhakrishnan — lost the elections," said a senior BJP leader.
Besides, the cabinet will need more representation from West Bengal, Telangana, Haryana and Delhi, the leader said. He added it is likely that Shah will be part of the cabinet.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi and Shah called on party veterans LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi and sought their blessings.
To Advani, who did not get a party ticket this time, PM Modi said the BJP's successes today were possible because greats like him spent decades building the party and providing fresh ideological narrative to the people.
The PM also tweeted his thanks to celebrities and world leaders who sent their congratulations upon the BJP's landslide poll victory. "Thank you, Donald Trump," read one of his tweets.
"This victory represents the aspirations of a nation of 1.3 billion people. I''m looking forward to working closely with you for closer bilateral ties, which also augur well for global peace and prosperity," read the PM's tweet to the US president.
Afghanistan president Ashraf Ghani, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe were among others to whom the PM expressed gratitude.
He also thanked former president Pranab Mukherjee, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, actor Akshay Kumar, actor-politician Rajnikanth and singer Asha Bhosle.
In other tweets, the PM said his government would work diligently for a better India.
Before the new government takes oath, PM Modi plans to visit his constituency to thank the people of Varanasi for returning him to power.
The New Old Guard
- President Kovind accepts resignation of PM, his Cabinet; invites them to dinner on Friday
- Tells Council to continue till new govt is sworn in before Jun 3
- Process to form new House to be initiated when 3 election commissioners meet President and hand over list of new members
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