Education, social and geographical diversity were among the factors considered in selecting new additions to the Council of Ministers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expanding his Council of Ministers by inducting 19 new Ministers. The expansion is the second since the PM took office and is being done with an eye on the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and a few other states in 2017. In the much awaited rejig, at least three faces out of over a dozen-odd are being inducted from poll-bound UP and almost a fourth of the new faces are from the scheduled castes (SCs) or Dalits. The ruling BJP has an ambitious plan to bring into its fold Dalits, who hold the key to victory in several poll-bound states next year.
According to government sources, the selection framework laid out by Modi was to bring in doers and performers who would deliver on his vision of development and good governance, and further his central priority of Gaon, Garib and Kisan.
The expansion comes after a vetting and selection process and people were reportedly assessed on the value they would bring to the Union Council of Ministers.
According to government sources, the factors in their selection considered were as follows:
1. Professional Expertise
New Ministers were identified from various walks of life, who would bring to bear their unique rich experience and expertise to their office:
—PP Chaudhary is senior Supreme Court advocate with over four decades of experience in constitutional litigation
—Subhash Ram Rao Bhamre is a well known doctor with a super specialisation in cancer surgery
—MJ Akbar is a veteran editor and acclaimed journalist
—Arjun Ram Meghwal is a former government officer from Rajasthan with administrative experience
—Anil Madhav Dave has published multiple books in Hindi and is active in Narmada River Conservation
2. State Government Experience
State leaders with hands-on understanding of State and Local-level reality were identified in particular:
—Ramesh Jigajinagi has been Cabinet Minister of Home in Karnataka
—Purshotam Rupala has been Cabinet Minister of Agriculture in Gujarat
—Jaswant Sinh Bhabhor has been Minister of Tribal Affairs and Rural Development in Gujarat
—Mahendra Nath Pandey has been Minister of Urban Development in Uttar Pradesh
3. Central Government Experience
—Faggan Kulaste has been MoS for Tribal Affairs in Govt of India
—Vijay Goel has been MoS for Youth Affairs and Sports in Govt of India
4. Fresh talent
Young people were identified to bring their own perspective and exuberance.
—Anupriya Singh Patel comes with a strong academic base (LSR + MBA) as well as strong organisational skills
—Mansukh Mandaviya has spent a long time in Gujarat’s agricultural sector, including heading Gujarat Agro-Industries Corporation
5. Political Experience
Political veterans were identified to leverage their experience and understanding
Faggan Singh Kulaste : 6 term MP + 1 term MLA – Mr.
Ramesh Jigajinagi : 5 term MP + 3 term MLA – Mr.
SS Ahluwalia: 5 term MP
Vijay Goel and Rajan Gohain 4 term MP
6. Education
— Mahendra Nath Pandey has a PhD from Banaras Hindu University
—Subhash Ram Rao Bhamre has a Super Specialisation in cancer surgery
—CR Chaudhary studied rural development at University of Birmingham
7. Social Diversity
—ST leaders Jaswant Sinh Bhabhor and Faggan Singh Kulaste
—SC leaders Ajay Tamta, Ramdas Athalwale, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Ramesh Jigajinagi and Krishna Raj)
—Minority leaders MJ Akbar SS Ahluwalia
—Women: Anupriya Singh Patel Mrs. Krishna Raj
8. Geographic Diversity
The 19 Ministers come from more than 10 states - UP, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bengal, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Assam.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "narendra-modi-meeting")
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}