Narendra Modi keeps names of new ministers close to his chest; swearing-in ceremony to take place at 12 noon.
Senior babus sitting inside air-conditioned chambers in Gandhinagar were busy on Friday, discussing expansion of the state cabinet with their colleagues. Even though several names are doing rounds in the corridors of power, the picture will be clear only by August 21 noon, when the swearing-in ceremony will take place at the Rajbhavan.
At the Sachivalay on Friday, officers of the general administration department were on their toes, making arrangements for the new ministers, who will find place in the Team Modi on Saturday.
One of the officials, who expressed his ignorance about the names of probable ministers, said, "We have been given instructions to make arrangements for six new chambers in the secretariat. In fact, the Rajbhavan officials have been asked not to remove the tent, which was set up for the celebration of the Independence Day."
There are possibilities that out of six new ministers, one would be from tribal belt, one woman MLA, and three from urban areas. The names which are doing rounds are Raman Patkar, MLA representing the tribal face from Umargaon assembly constituency, Vasuben Trivedi, MLA from Jamnagar constituency, who is likely to be inducted as minister of state for women and child development.
She is set to take the place of former minister Dr Maya Kodnani, who was holding the portfolio. MLAs from the municipal corporation areas are likely to be Jitu Sukhadia from Sayajiganj in Vadodara, Rakesh Shah or Pradeepsinh Jadeja, Bharat Barot from Ahmedabad and Pankaj Desai from Nadiad.
However, sources closed to the chief minister said, "The chief minister is keeping it a closely guarded secret and it is unlikely that the names of the new ministers will come out till the last moment."
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