The Hindu : Modi retains Home portfolio

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 24, 2002

National

National

Modi retains Home portfolio

By Our Special Correspondent

GANDHINAGAR DEC. 23. The Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, has retained Home, Industries and Energy besides General Administration and Policy Issues in the distribution of portfolios to his Ministers today.

The first meeting of Mr. Modi's 16-member "token'' Cabinet was held here before he left for New Delhi to attend the BJP national executive meeting to review the Gujarat Assembly election results and other issues.

The Cabinet decided to recommend to the Governor to convene a two-day session of the Assembly from December 26. However, the House is unlikely to transact any business on the first day as all the newly-elected members would take oath as MLAs and, on the second, the House is expected to be adjourned after adopting a condolence resolution in memory of the former Chief Minister, Babubhai Patel, who died on Friday.

The Cabinet passed two resolutions, one condoling Mr. Patel's death and the other, thanking the voters of the State for reposing confidence in the ruling BJP.

The massive mandate received in the Assembly elections has also encouraged the party to recommend to the State Election Commission the holding of elections to 89 municipalities, two district panchayats and about 15 taluka panchayats, which were being postponed for the last two years on one pretext or the other.

The State Government sent a note to the Election Commission to this effect immediately after the meeting.

Vajubhai Vala, who vacated his seat to enable Mr. Modi contest the by-election earlier this year, got back his Finance portfolio he held under the former Chief Minister, Keshubhai Patel. However, the Revenue portfolio, which he held last time, has been allocated to Kaushik Patel, Energy Minister in the outgoing Cabinet.

Ashok Bhatt, who held Health in the last Cabinet, would have to satisfy himself with Law and Judiciary and Parliamentary Affairs, while I.K. Jadeja gets Health and the additional portfolios of Public Works and Urban Development.

Anandiben Patel and Narottam Patel retained charge of Education and Water Supply, while Bhupendra Chudasma would be the new Agriculture and Cooperation Minister. Ramanlal Vora, belonging to the other backward classes, would be the Minister for Social Justice, while Mangubhai Patel, a tribal, would be in-charge of Tribal Welfare.

Mr. Modi's confidant, Amit Shah, would look after Home as Minister of State, while Saurabh Dalal Patel, a management expert, would assist Mr Modi in Energy, Petrochemicals and Planning. Anil Patel, an engineer, would be the Minister of State for Industries, Mines, Minerals, Tourism, Salt Industry and other departments retained by Mr. Modi, while Prabhatsinh Chauhan has been sidelined with Cow Welfare and Development of Religious Centres and Baukubhai Ugad with Youth and Cultural Affairs.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National