'Will do good work if selected in Union Cabinet', says Hansraj Ahir

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Hansraj Ahir, who is likely to be included in the Union Cabinet, on Friday said that he would do good work if given such an opportunity by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Ahir, however, said that he has not yet received any message in this regard.

"I have not got any message so far. I am happy that the Cabinet is going to be expanded. And with the inclusion of ministers from Maharashtra, the state is going to benefit," he said.

When asked that Prime Minister Modi praising him during his address at Nagpur indicated that he would be given a cabinet berth, Ahir said: "Prime Minister praising me is a matter of great happiness for me. I wouldn't like to connect that with this. If I am selected, I will do good work."

"Today I am going to Delhi for a meeting, I am going to stay there today," he added.

Ahir, who exposed the coal blocks allocation scam, had frequently requested details of coal mining from the former Prime Minister's Office.

Ahir and his party colleague Prakash Javadekar had requested the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) for an inquiry into the coal blocks allocation scam. The CVC later directed the CBI to investigate the matter.

Reports indicate that Prime Minister Modi is likely to expand his Cabinet before the Winter Session of Parliament.

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is likely to be inducted in the Union Cabinet as the Defence Minister. At the moment, Arun Jaitley holds the charge of both Defence and Finance portfolios.

Among others, BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is expected to be allotted a Cabinet berth.

BJP leader Yashwant Sinha's son Jayant Sinha too is in the race for a Cabinet berth, with reports suggesting that he is being considered as a Minister of State (MoS) for Defence or Finance. Other key people who are expected to be promoted are MoS Nirmala Sitharaman and Haryana leader Birender Singh.