Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi here on Wednesday expanded his Cabinet and inducted six new junior ministers into his team, keeping an eye on the state Assembly elections scheduled in December 2012.
The governor, Dr Kamla, administered the oath of office to the new ministers at a function held at Raj Bhavan in the state capital Gandhinagar.
Those who have been inducted into the ministry are Liladhar Vaghela, Ranjit Gilitwala, Mohan Kundaria, JituSukhadia, Ishwarbhai Patel and Jaydrathsinh Parmar.
With the state Assembly polls due in 2012, Mr Modi has inducted three ministers from central Gujarat region, which is considered as a stronghold of the Congress. They are Sukhadia from Baroda, Jaydrathsinh Parmar from Halol and Ishwarbhai Patel from Ankleshwar.
Mr Kundaria is the MLA from Saurashtra belonging to the powerful Patel community.
To give a better representation to South Gujarat, Ranjit Gilitwala, former mayor of Surat, was also taken in while Vaghel represents north Gujarat.
After the latest expansion the strength of the Modi ministry has gone up to 27, which is 15 per cent of the total strength of MLAs.
After the swearing-in ceremony, the newly- inducted ministers were given portfolios as junior ministers. Mr Vaghela has got labour and employment, Mr Kundalia rural development, Mr Sikhadia has been given tourism and civil supplies, Ishwar Patel has got sports and cooperation while road and buildings has been given to Jaydrathsinh Parmar and former Surat mayor Gilitwala has got cottage industries and planning and stationary.
This is the second expansion of the Modi Cabinet in the last five months. Before the crucial local self-governing bodies’ elections, Mr Modi had expanded his Cabinet on August 21 and inducted four ministers, taking its strength to 21. The last expansion was also necessitated by the arrest of junior home minister Amit Shah in connection with the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case.
Party sources said Mr Modi is also likely to appoint leaders to the post of state boards and corporations soon.