New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi sidelined the Bharatiya Janata Party founding members Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi as their names do not figure on the list of ministers sworn in on Monday.
Even though Advani's name was doing the rounds for Lok Sabha Speaker post and Joshi's for Defence Ministry, there was no mention of the two on the swearing-in day.
According to sources, eight-time MP from Indore Sumitra Mahajan is the front runner for Lok Sabha Speaker post. There are also reports that senior party leader Arun Jaitley may get additional charge of Defence besides Finance Ministry.
If the duo is eyeing NDA chairperson post, then it may be difficult for them to lay their hands on it as Modi is keen on having that post.
On the basis of list of the 46 ministers sent to President Paranab Mukherjee, Modi seemed to have maintained a balance between youth and experience as all the leaders except Najma Heptullah, 74, and Kalraj Mishra, 73, are under 70 years of age.
President Pranab Mukherjee administered oath of office and secrecy to Modi and other ministers at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhawan. The mega event was attended by around 4,000 Indian and foreign dignitaries, including key leaers from SAARC nation.
Will the veteran leaders be sidelined or will they get some charge of their stature, only time will tell.
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