Modi adds Cabinet ministers, some from lower castes

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expanded his Cabinet on Tuesday by inducting 19 new ministers, several of them from lower castes, following his completion of two years in office.
President Pranab Mukherjee swore in the new junior ministers at a ceremony at the president’s palace. Junior Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar was elevated to full Cabinet rank.
The expansion is seen as Modi’s attempt to woo lower caste voters to support his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in important state legislative elections early next year in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Punjab states.
Modi described the changes as an expansion and not a reshuffle of his Cabinet. He said his government intended to ensure speed and focus in development work. The portfolios of the new ministers were expected to be announced later Tuesday.
Five junior ministers holding the portfolios of agriculture, water resources, river development, tribal affairs and human resource development resigned to make room for the new ministers.
Modi completed two years in office in May.

Source: Arab News