Modi expands his team, inducts six new ministers

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today expanded his Cabinet and inducted six new Ministers of State into his team, keeping an eye on the State Assembly elections scheduled in December 2012.

Governor Dr Kamla administered the oath of office to the new ministers at a function held at Rajbhavan here.

Those who have been inducted into the ministry are: Liladhar Vaghela, Ranjit Gilitwala, Mohan Kundaria, Jitu Sukhadia, Ishwarbhai Patel and Jaydrathsinh Parmar.

Of them Ishwarbhai Patel and Jaydrathsinh Parmar were Parliamentary Secretary elevated to ministry today.

With State Assembly polls due in 2012, Modi has inducted three ministers from Central Gujarat region, which is considered as a stronghold of Congress. They are Sukhadia from Vadodara, Jaydrathsinh Parmar from Halol and Ishwarbhai Patel from Ankleshwar.

Kundaria is MLA from Saurashtra belonging to powerful Patel community. To give a better representation to South Gujarat, Ranjit Gilitwala was also taken in. While Vaghela represents north Gujarat.

After today’s expansion the strength of Modi ministry has gone up to 27, which is 15 per cent of total strength of MLAs.

This is seen as a last expansion of the Modi government before the State assembly elections.