Manohar Parrikar may get defence portfolio in Cabinet reshuffle

There is talk that there could be an induction of as many as 10 ministers. The names of Jat leader from Haryana Birender Singh, who also had a meeting with BJP President Amit Shah, Giriraj Singh, an MP from Bihar, and G S Shekhawat, MP from Rajasthan, are doing the rounds for inclusion in the Union Council of Ministers.
  
Talk of the Cabinet expansion gained momentum after Parrikar arrived here during the day cancelling a Goa Cabinet meeting and straight going into a meeting with Shah. Later in the night, he followed it up with a meeting with Modi with whom he shares a good rapport.
   
In all his brief interactions with media on two-three occasions, the Chief Minister did not deny suggestions that he was being tipped to be the Defence Minister.
  
"I can comment on it only after meeting the Prime Minister. Let the Prime Minister who has invited me comment," he said when asked about the media speculation after his meeting with Shah.
  
However, after his meeting with Modi he told reporters that they only discussed Goa issues and there was no talk on his induction in the Union Cabinet.

"I have not discussed nor has he discussed anything about that. So, as of now the issue is dead. The news is dead," he said.
  
"I had requested for a meeting (with Modi) to discusses issues of Goa and this is what was discussed. He has accepted my demands for Goa," he said. When asked if he would continue as chief minister, he said, "Obviously."

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PM Modi, Amit Shah favoured stand to not form govt in Delhi: BJP

The decision was taken by the BJP top brass after consultations even as there was speculation that it could go ahead with government formation by obtaining the support of some Independent MLAs, amongst others.

Sources said that the BJP brass was convinced that since it does not have the numbers to form a stable government, it would be best to reject the offer of forming one.

Buoyed by BJP's recent successes in Maharashtra and Haryana, party leaders felt that seeking a fresh mandate was the best option in Delhi as it believes in playing clean politics and not indulging in any kind of "cheap" tactics and horse-trading.

"We do not believe in cheap politics. We do not have the numbers to form a government in Delhi. We will go by the decision of the LG and hope to form a government with a full majority," said BJP's national secretary Shrikant Sharma.

Delhi tonight appeared headed for Assembly polls after BJP, AAP and Congress told Lt Governor Najeeb Jung that they were not for the formation of a new government here while seeking a fresh mandate for ending the eight-month-long political uncertainty in the national capital.

Indications are that Jung, who met leaders of the three political parties, may send his recommendation to the President for dissolving the Assembly any time.

Sharma claimed that the party has not changed its stand on government formation ever since the Assembly polls last year.

Source: India City News and Hindi e-Paper ,  Cricket Full Scoreboard