'President Accepted Resignation Reluctantly:' Najma Heptulla, Ex-Minister

New Delhi: Najma Heptulla, whose resignation this week wrapped up Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mega cabinet reshuffle, today said she quit because she wanted "some time for myself," also sharing that President Pranab Mukherjee had accepted her resignation "reluctantly."  

"Just wanted some time for myself and hence I tendered my resignation, which the President accepted reluctantly," said Ms Heptulla, who turned 75 in April this year, crossing the age-limit that PM Modi is said to have specified for ministers in his government.

Ms Heptulla's resignation as Minister for Minority Affairs has been widely ascribed to that unwritten rule. It leaves only one member over 75 years in PM Modi's council of 76 ministers - Kalraj Mishra, a powerful Brahmin leader from Uttar Pradesh who is seen to be continuing in view of next year's assembly elections in the state.  

Najma Heptulla, a former Congresswoman who joined the BJP in 2004, said she "had nothing to worry, I had completed my work as the Minority Affairs Minister in the last two years."

She could be made Governor of a state, sources have said. "I will always be available for any responsibility given to me in future," Ms Heptulla has said.

She was out of the country when changes were announced in PM Modi's council of ministers last week and resigned on her return to Delhi. Sources said she was allowed a graceful exit by the PM and BJP chief Amit Shah. Five other ministers had to submit their resignations shortly after the reshuffle.

A sixth, GM Siddeshwara, a BJP leader from Karnataka, also resigned at the same time as Ms Heptulla; he bought more time by informing the party leadership that it was his birthday on the day of the cabinet reshuffle.

Najma Heptullah served as deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha for 16 years. She represents Madhya Pradesh as a BJP member of the Upper House now.