Suresh Gopi to be given independent charge if not cabinet rank, to take oath tomorrow with Modi

NEW DELHI: It is indicated that actor and Thrissur MP Suresh Gopi will also be sworn in tomorrow as a member of the third Narendra Modi cabinet. According to sources, Suresh Gopi is likely to get cabinet rank.

The swearing-in ceremony will take place tomorrow at 7.15 pm. The swearing-in of around 50 along with Modi has been scheduled. Prominent members of BJP's allies will also take oath tomorrow.

The BJP national leadership decided to give a ministerial post to Suresh Gopi in recognition of his achievement in winning a seat for the BJP in Kerala. Although Suresh Gopi requested the leadership to exclude him from the cabinet citing his busy film schedules, the party leadership did not accept his request.

Meanwhile, major allies TDP and JDU are continuing to bargain. More than one leader from both parties is likely to be sworn in on Sunday. Yesterday evening, NDA leaders held a meeting at the residence of BJP President JP Nadda.

Prominent BJP leaders such as Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, S. Jaishankar, Ashwani Vaishnaw, Dharmendra Pradhan, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Anurag Singh Thakur, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Sukendu Adhikari, Bansuri Swaraj and Shobha Karandlaje are likely to become ministers.

Shiv Sena (Shinde) and Jana Sena parties will also have representation along with Chirag Paswan (LJP), H.D. Kumaraswamy (JDS), Lalan Singh (JDU), Anupriya Patel (Apna Dal), Jitan Manjhi (HAM), Jayant Chaudhary (RLD), Praful Patel (NCP) and Ramdas Athawale (RPI).

President invites Modi to form government

After the letters of support, including those of the allies, reached the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Narendra Modi met President Draupadi Murmu and staked the claim to form the government. The President then appointed Modi as the Prime Minister-designate and invited him to form the government. She also asked Modi to submit the names of the ministers.

The NDA meeting held yesterday at 11 am in the central hall of the old parliament elected Modi as its leader. Modi reached the Rashtrapati Bhavan after meeting senior BJP leaders LK Advani, Murali Manohar Joshi and former President Ram Nath Kovind.