19 MPs joined the government in the second expansion and reshuffle by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in little over two years since he took over in May 2014 which saw a number a dalit and OBC leaders being given ministerial positions.
Three MPs from Uttar Pradesh-- Mahendra Nath Pandey, Krishna Raj and Anupriya Singh Patel, elected from Mirzapur, were made ministers. UP goes to polls early next year.
Three faces from Gujarat -- Mansukh Mandaviya, Purushottam Rupala and Jaswant Sinh Bhabhor -- which goes to polls next year, also got ministerial berths.
Madhya Pradesh MPs -- Anil Madhav Dave (Indore), Faggan Kulaste from Mandla and journalist-turned-politician M J Akbar also became ministers.
With an eye on Uttarakhand polls, a dalit leader from Almora Ajay Tamta was inducted into the Council of Ministers.
Ramdas Athalwale, who is the leader of Republican Party of India (RPI-A), an allay of BJP, was also joined the government.
All barring Vijay Goel and Faggan Kulaste are new faces while a few have been ministers in BJP-ruled state governments.
The MPs were sworn in as ministers by President Pranab Mukherjee at a ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhawan.
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