Cabinet rejig gives importance to states due for polls

The second expansion of the Narendra Modi Cabinet is primarily aimed at giving importance to representatives from states which are going to polls next year, top party sources said today.
As many as 19 new ministers were inducted in the Cabinet expansion today, the second major expansion since Prime Minister Modi swept to power in May 2014.
"The Cabinet rejig has given importance to representatives of states where elections are due," the source said.
Assembly elections are due in politically crucial Uttar Pradesh and Modi's home state of Gujarat.
Induction of 19 new ministers today has swelled Modi's cabinet to 78 - one of the biggest in recent years, but short of the constitutional limit of 82.

The previous UPA government headed by Manmohan Singh had 77 ministers.
"We have left scope for political manoeuvring so that whenever elections are due in states if required they can be accommodated," the source said.