Six MLAs, including Jayesh Radadia, son of gun-totting MP Vitthal Radadia who switched to BJP from Congress, were today inducted in the Narendra Modi ministry in Gujarat.
Governor Kamla Beniwal administered the oath of office to the MLAs -- all ministers of state -- in Modi's presence at Mahatma Mandir here. There are now fifteen ministers of state and eight cabinet ministers including the Chief Minister.
Jayesh's induction did not come as a surprise, party sources said, as his father Vithal Radadia holds a considerable political clout in Saurashtra region. Jayesh has been made minister of state for tourism and civil aviation.
Vithal Radadia had been caught on camera brandishing a gun at a toll both plaza when he was a Congress MP, last year. He later switched over to BJP alongwith his son, and got re-elected as MP from Porbandar on BJP ticket in by-election. Jayesh was elected as MLA from Jetpur constituency.
Few days back former Congress leader Narhari Amin too was rewarded with minister-rank post of Vice President of State Planning Commission. Amin crossed over to BJP just before the 2012 Assembly elections.
The other five leaders who took oath were Jambusar MLA Chhatrasinh Mori, Limkheda MLA Jashvantsinh Bhabhor, Halol MLA Jaydrathsinh Parmar, Chanasma MLA Dilipsinh Thakor, MLA from Anjar Vasan Ahir; all of them have been ministers in Modi's government earlier.
Parmar has been allocated road and building portfolio, while Bhabhor has been given forest and environment and tribal development departments.
Mori has been given food and civil supplies and consumer affairs and Ahir has been inducted as minister of state for cottage industries and salt industries. Thakor has been given the charge of animal husbandry, fisheries, cow protection and printing departments.
These leaders were inducted keeping in mind the caste and regional balance in the ministry, sources said. No woman MLA figured in today's expansion.
