Key Ministers in the New BJP Government
Arun Jaitley,
61, was named minister for finance, defence and corporate affairs even though
he lost a seat in the elections. He was head of opposition in the upper house
of parliament under the Congress-led government. During the BJP-led
administration from 1999 to 2004, Jaitley worked as
minister for information and broadcasting, asset sales, law, commerce and
trade. As a corporate lawyer, he has represented companies including Coca-Cola
Co. and PepsiCo Inc. Born into a family
that migrated to India from Pakistan after the nations were separated in 1947, Jaitley was a leader of the youth wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a Hindu nationalist group and the BJP’s ideological
parent.
Rajnath Singh,
62, was named home minister. The BJP president was once a physics lecturer in
his home of Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in India. Singh became a
member of the upper house of parliament and chief whip of the BJP in 1997. In
2000, he returned to Uttar Pradesh as chief minister, and later became the
minister of agriculture and food processing in the Vajpayee government. As
minister, he created a call center for farmers in
financial trouble and created the farm income insurance program, according to
his website.
Sushma Swaraj,
62, was named foreign minister, after serving as health and information
ministers in previous cabinets. The BJP’s highest ranking female leader was
among a group of veterans who’ve been side-lined as Modi
has risen within the party, leading to friction that was evident during the
campaign.
Nirmala Sitharaman is originally from Trichy. Her father was in the Railways. She studies later
in Delhi at Convent of Jesus and Mary. Later in JNU, she registered for a PhD
on “India-Europe Textile Trade” but did not complete the thesis on account of
marriage to an Andhraite. She moved to London and
later Hyderabad. She was the articulate spokesperson of the BJP known for her
careful choice of words and balanced communications.
In her new role of independent charge of Commerce and
Industry, she will bring a fresh mind to the complex world of trade. The
subjects of WTO and Trade Management will be in her charge. In addition, she
will work under Arun Jaitley
as Junior Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs.
Nirmala ji has her plate full. The trade
and industry will be kind to her in the initial phase of her batting but bitter
comments will flow if she does not score well!
Nitin Gadkari,
66, is India’s minister of road transport and highways, as well as shipping. He
was BJP president from 2009 to 2013 before graft allegations thwarted his
attempts to win a second term. Gadkari owns the Purti Group, which has at least five companies involved in
manufacturing electricity, sugar, alcohol, ethanol, bio-diesel and fertilizers,
according to its website. Gadkari was among those who
seconded the motion to elect Modi as the party’s pick
for prime minister.