Promotions for the 4 ministers as part of the Cabinet reshuffle were made based on their performance.
Highlights
- Nirmala Sitharaman and Piyush Goyal get Cabinet rank
- Dharmendra Pradhan and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also elevated
- Promotion after performance review of ministers
In Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mega cabinet reshuffle today, four ministers - Dharmendra Pradhan, Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi - have been promoted. Piyush Goyal takes charge of the railways ministry.
These
ministers have been rewarded for how they translated PM Modi's flagship schemes into reality, say sources. They also reportedly enjoy the confidence of BJP president Amit Shah.
Piyush Goyal, the Minister of State for Power, delivered on the government's plan to electrify villages and on auctions in the scam-hit coal sector, and also brought about a turnaround in power production. He is seen as an energetic and hard-working minister.
Dharmendra Pradhan is another minister who has delivered on one of PM Modi's main schemes, one close to his heart - the "Give it Up" plan for people to forego subsidised cooking gas or LPG voluntarily. A low-profile worker, he is also seen to have succeeded in keeping the oil ministry clean of lobbies that have always blighted it.
Nirmala Sitharaman, one of the party's chief spokespersons before she was included in the Modi government, is seen to have grown into her role of Commerce minister. Recently, she travelled to China for a BRICS meeting - a delicate assignment in the middle of a lengthy standoff at the border over Doklam.
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the only Muslim face in the council of ministers, is seen to have defended the government strongly and ably in parliament, besides managing ties with the opposition. He has also faced a tough challenge in battling perceptions following a series of mob attacks over beef by self-styled cow vigilantes.
Government sources said last night PM Modi based the selection of members for his team on "4Ps - passion, proficiency, professional and political acumen", to deliver on his vision of "a new India".
Six ministers have been pink-slipped, mainly after they fell short in a performance review. Based on their work, ministers' performance was classified as "positive" or "negative".
An excel spreadsheet of the ministers and their rating was reportedly submitted to PM Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, and it was the reference point when decisions were taken on changes to the cabinet.