Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid speculation that he may be inducted into the Union Cabinet as Defence Minister. Earlier, he met BJP president Amit Shah.
Mr. Parrikar’s arrival in the capital fuelled speculation that a Cabinet expansion was on the cards after Mr. Modi’s Varanasi visit on November 7 and 8 and before he leaves for his foreign tour on November 11.
However, there is another view that though a Cabinet expansion is due, it may take place only after the winter session of Parliament, scheduled to end on December 23.
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Initially, Mr. Parrikar indicated that he will “speak” later, but after his meeting with the Prime Minister, he sought to scotch all rumours and said he had met Mr. Modi to discuss “Goa affairs.”
Several Ministers in the Union Cabinet are holding charge of two or three Ministries and are likely to be relieved of additional charges in the reshuffle. There are indications that after his recent surgery, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley may want to give up the Defence portfolio.