New Delhi: Around 43 ministers including 36 new faces who have been inducted into the Modi cabinet have taken charge today. Among those ministers who took charge early today are - Ashwini Vaishnaw, Meenakshi Lekhi, Anurag Thakur, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Kiren Rijiju, Darshana Vikram Jardosh, Danve Raosaheb Dadarao, Mansukh Mandaviya, Dr Bharati Pravin and Ramchandra Prasad Singh.
Ashwini Vaishnaw: The BJP Rajya Sabha MP from Odisha took charge as the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology and as the Minister of Railways on Thursday. The Bureaucrat-entrepreneur-turned-politician is the country's new railway minister and faces his biggest challenge which would be to oversee the operationalisation of private trains on the railway network, which is a first in Indian history. Vaishnaw (50) is a former IAS officer of the 1994 batch and also holds an MBA degree from the prestigious Wharton School, Pennysylvania University and an MTech from IIT Kanpur. In his 15 years' tenure as an IAS officer, Vaishnaw handled key responsibilities and was known for his contribution to the Public-Private Participation framework in infrastructure. In 2004, Vaishnaw was appointed as Vajpayee's private secretary after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) lost the 2004 election.
"I thank the honourable Prime Minister for the great opportunity he has given me to serve the nation. Telecommunications, IT and Railways. There are lots of synergies in the three and I will be working to ensure that his vision is implemented. The railway is a major part of PM Modi's vision. His vision for railways is to transform the lives of the people, that everyone - common man, farmers, the poor - gets the benefit of the railway," Vaishnaw told media agencies soon after he took charge. Vaishnaw also succeeds senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad in the Meity and Ministry of Communications.
Anurag Thakur: Another cabinet minister, who is elevated in Modi government's cabinet reshuffle, Anurag Thakur has taken charge as the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, as well as the portfolio of the Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry today. "PM Modi has done terrific work in the last 7 yrs to take India forward. The work done by people before me in I&B Ministry & responsibility given to me by the PM, I will try to meet those expectations," Thakur said.
Earlier, he was handling the important portfolio of the Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs. Anurag Thakur represents the Hamirpur constituency as the Lok Sabha MP and is also the only BJP leader, serving as an officer in the Territorial Army. He has also served as the President of BCCI and the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association.
Meenakshi Lekhi: The BJP MP from the prestigious New Delhi constituency who took oath as a Union Minister of State on Wednesday on her second term, has taken charge as the Minister of State (MoS) in the Ministry of External Affairs and MoS Culture. "On behalf of all friends, I express my gratitude to the PM, HM, party chief & entire team that they prioritised meritocracy & hard work and gave positions to everyone. India has been brought not only on the maps but also in the ministries. Women have been given big responsibilities. People used to speak of women empowerment but PM made it possible that the country is led by empowered women. provided recognition & given responsibility, this is praiseworthy," Meenakshi Lekhi said.
Lekhi is a well-known name in the country for her Television debates and well-articulated speeches and debates in the parliament. She brings her wide gamut of experiences including serving as Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Undertakings, and the National Commission for Women.
Mansukh Mandaviya: A BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat's Saurashtra region, took charge as the country's new health minister on Thursday. He offered prayers in his office at the Union Health Ministry as he took charge as the Minister of Health and Family Welfare today. Mandaviya replaces Dr Harsh Vardhan, who was dropped from the Council of Ministers on Wednesday. His portfolio assumes prominence as the country battles the deadly coronavirus pandemic.
He had been handling the Minister for State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (Independent Charge), and the Union Minister of State for Chemical and Fertilizers. He is known for his thoughtful and insightful speeches and for spreading awareness in the villages of Gujarat. He also holds a record of being the youngest MLA in Gujarat.
Kiren Rijiju: The Member of Parliament from Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday took charge as the new Minister of Law and Justice. "I am shifting to Law and Justice but the efforts will continue. It is a huge responsibility for me to function as a Minister for Law & Justice. Fulfilling public expectations will be my priority. We will always try to be transparent. Time at the sports department was memorable. The team was good. PM's vision of making India a sporting vision will be fulfilled," the newly-appointed Union Minister for Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju said.
He is a key figure representing the BJP in the Northeast. He was earlier heading the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and Minister of State for Minority Affairs. Rijiju also served as Minister of State for Home Affairs from 2014-19. He is actively promoting sports in the country and has played an active part in India's 2020 Tokyo Olympics mission.
