A day after his swearing-in, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday allocated the Home portfolio to Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajnath Singh, while Finance, with Defence as additional charge, was given to Arun Jaitley.
Another Ministry on Raisina Hill — External Affairs — was given to senior party leader Sushma Swaraj. She will be a part of the high-power Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by the Prime Minister and consisting of Ministers of Home, Finance, Defence and External Affairs, all from the BJP.
The Presidential communiqué on portfolio allocation to the Union Council of Ministers said “all important policy issues” will be with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He retains the portfolios of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space.
Long-time ally Shiv Sena was upset at being given Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Ministry for its lone representative in the Cabinet, Anant Geete, who refused to take charge of his portfolio. The Sena later said it wanted more ministries.
