A day ahead of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi's swearing-in, meeting was held between senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) leaders on government formation.
The senior leaders deliberated on the possible names for council of ministers, who will take oath along with Modi tomorrow evening. The list is expected to be conveyed to the Rashtrapati Bhawan by Monday morning, as per reports.
BJP leader Arun Jaitley met senior RSS functionary Suresh Soni at the RSS head-office here.
Speculations have also been doing the rounds that Modi may opt for a smaller and leaner Cabinet, keeping in tune with his 'minimum government, maximum governance' agenda.
As per sources senior BJP leaders like Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and Ravi Shankar Prasad amongst others may be inducted in the Cabinet. BJP president Rajnath's name for Home Ministry, Jaitley's name for Finance, Gadkari's name for Transport and Prasad's name for Law have been doing the rounds for a while now.
On the other hand, BJP allies like Shiv Sena, Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party and Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party may also be accommodated in Modi's team. However, Modi has made it clear that MPs whether in his party or from ally parties should not be hankering after Cabinet berths.
Modi reportedly held a series of meetings with top party leaders yesterday to finalise his team. Series of meeting were held today too.
Meanwhile, TDP chief today met Modi here in Gujarat Bhawan and the meeting lasted for over 30 minutes. Naidu had yesterday met Rajnath at his residence.
BJP's other ally, the Akali Dal has said that it will not join the government at Centre.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway for Modi's oath-taking ceremony tomorrow in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan. Among other dignitaries, the heads of SAARC nations will be attending the ceremony.
The BJP won a massive mandate in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls bagging 282 seats on its own, crossing the half-way mark of 272 and along with its allies it won 335 seats. The Congress on the other hand was decimated ending up with just 44 seats.
The results were declared on May 16. Modi was BJP prime ministerial candidate.
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