Shivraj Singh Chauhan to become Defence Minister?

New Delhi: As stage is all set for PM-designate Narendra Modi to take the oath of Prime Minister for a record third term on Sunday, June 9, the list of union cabinet ministers is in the last stage to get the final stamp of BJP top leadership and its allies .

Ahead of the oath-taking ceremony; there are several rumours as to who will be part of PM Narendra Modi's new cabinet. It must be noted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is the single largest party in the Lok Sabha. The saffron party won 240 seats in the India General Election Results 2024 declared on Tuesday, June 4.

According to reports, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh may move to the Home Ministry, the portfolio he handed in the first tenure of NDA government. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to be given the responsibility of the organisation as the Party President. JP Nadda has already completed his tenure of Party President. He is also likely to join the government.

Smriti Irani, who lost in Amethi, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman are among the few leaders of the previous government who are likely to continue as ministers and retain their ministries in Modi 3.0. However, neither the BJP nor NDA has officially announced this.

After the results of Lok Sabha elections, discussions have intensified regarding the political future of Shivraj Singh Chauhan. It is believed that this time he may be given a big ministry in the Modi cabinet. Chauhan who played a stellar role in the grand victory of the ruling party in Madhya Pradesh is likely to get the heavy Defence Ministry.

Several reports have claimed that JD-S wants the agriculture portfolio, while the TDP has sought speakers’ posts. However, reports also stated that the BJP will likely keep important ministries under its belt while trying to accommodate its allies in the cabinet by rewarding them with Minister of State (MoS) positions.

President Droupadi Murmu will administer the oath of office and secrecy to PM-elect Narendra Modi, followed by his Council of Ministers for the third time at 7.15 p.m.

(Defence Watch– India’s Defence News centre that places the spotlight on Defence Manufacturing, Defence Technology, Strategy and Military affairs is on Twitter. Follow us here and stay updated.)