Oath Ceremony Soon for 22 New Ministers in Modi Cabinet Expansion

There are likely to be four new ministers of Cabinet rank and 15 Ministers of State or junior ministers, sources said. PM Modi is also expected to induct three new Ministers of State who will have independent charge of their ministries.

This will take the number of ministers in the Modi cabinet to 66. The Congress-led UPA government had 73 ministers in May this year, when it was voted out in the national elections.

There is much speculation that former Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar, tipped for days to be India's new Defence Minister, might replace Rajnath Singh as Home Minister, with Mr Singh taking charge of Defence.

With the BJP's Maharashtra wrangles with the Shiv Sena not sorted yet, it is still not clear whether the Shiv Sena will participate in the cabinet expansion today. But it's lawmaker Anil Desai is on his way to Delhi and the Sena could well spring a surprise, sources said.

Another Shiv Sena leader Suresh Prabhu is expected to be inducted today, much to the chagrin of his party, which has not nominated him. But Mr Prabhu is widely praised for his performance as a minister in earlier NDA governments and the PM is said to be keen to use his experience and expertise on his team.

"The Prime Minister said I'd like you to come and have breakfast with me and then I would like you to take oath," said Olympic medallist and ex-armyman Rajyavardhan Rathore, confirming he will join the cabinet today. 

Singer-turned-BJP politician Babul Supriyo, who pulled off a big surprise win in the Lok Sabha polls from Asansol in West Bengal, may become a  minister today. After tea with the PM he said, "He is not a strict headmaster."

Prominent among others who could be sworn in today are BJP leaders Rajiv Pratap Rudy, JP Nadda and Muqtar Abbas Naqvi, sources said.

Likely to join Mr Rudy as ministers from Bihar, sources said, are Giriraj Singh, known for his controversial comments earlier this year and Ram Kripal Yadav, imported recently from Lalu Prasad's party. Bihar votes for a new assembly next year and both these leaders represent powerful caste vote-banks.

Rajya Sabha lawmaker YS Chowdary of the Telugu Desam Party or TDP, whose name was recommended by party chief Chandrababu Naidu, is also expected to be a part of PM Modi's Cabinet. From Telengana.