Anant Geete, an MP from Raigad.
New Delhi:
The BJP's biggest and oldest ally Shiv Sena has been assured a berth in the Narendra Modi cabinet, sources have said. And the party has nominated Anant Geete, they added.
Mr Geete is an MP from Maharashtra's Raigad and has served as a minister in the previous NDA government. The Shiv Sena has been promised with more positions later.
The development comes a day before Mr Modi takes oath as the 15th Prime Minister of India. On the eve of his swearing-in ceremony, Mr Modi has confirmed that he will head a leaner cabinet than his predecessor Manmohan Singh did.
An official statement said on Sunday evening that Mr Modi has "adopted (the) guiding principle of 'minimum government and maximum governance' and also rationalization with a commitment to bring a change in the work culture and style of governance."
Mr Modi is expected to merge and restructure several ministries like, sources said, transport, which could include surface transport, shipping, metro, bullet trains and even perhaps Railways and Civil Aviation.
The statement from Mr Modi's office said, "The focus is on convergence in the activities of various Ministries where one cabinet Minister will be heading a cluster of Ministries who are working in complimentary sectors. Mr Modi is eventually aiming at Smart Governance where the top layers of Government will be downsized and there would be expansion at the grass root level (sic)."
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will attend Mr Modi's swearing-in ceremony and according to the party, a total of 35 ministers will be sworn-in.
Mr Geete is an MP from Maharashtra's Raigad and has served as a minister in the previous NDA government. The Shiv Sena has been promised with more positions later.
The development comes a day before Mr Modi takes oath as the 15th Prime Minister of India. On the eve of his swearing-in ceremony, Mr Modi has confirmed that he will head a leaner cabinet than his predecessor Manmohan Singh did.
An official statement said on Sunday evening that Mr Modi has "adopted (the) guiding principle of 'minimum government and maximum governance' and also rationalization with a commitment to bring a change in the work culture and style of governance."
Mr Modi is expected to merge and restructure several ministries like, sources said, transport, which could include surface transport, shipping, metro, bullet trains and even perhaps Railways and Civil Aviation.
The statement from Mr Modi's office said, "The focus is on convergence in the activities of various Ministries where one cabinet Minister will be heading a cluster of Ministries who are working in complimentary sectors. Mr Modi is eventually aiming at Smart Governance where the top layers of Government will be downsized and there would be expansion at the grass root level (sic)."
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will attend Mr Modi's swearing-in ceremony and according to the party, a total of 35 ministers will be sworn-in.
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