Smriti Irani, J Scindia get additional portfolios of minority affairs, steel ministry as two ministers resign

-Madhvi Jha

On Wednesday, Union ministers Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Ram Chandra Prasad Singh resigned from the Union Cabinet. The additional charge has been given to Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani as Ministry of Minority Affairs. In contrast, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has been given the additional charge of the Ministry of Steel.

Both the ministers submitted their resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. Later it was accepted by the President of India as advised by the PM, and Smriti Irani and Jyotiraditya Scindia were given the additional charge.

After getting the additional charge of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Smriti Irani tweeted, “Hearty thanks to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji for handing over the additional charge of Ministry of Minority Affairs in the Government of India. I will continue to fulfil the given responsibility with full devotion.”

There is speculation that Naqvi may be the BJP’s candidate for the Vice President of India, as before handing over his resignation, Naqvi met with BJP president JP Nadda. M Venkaiah Naidu’s term as Vice President will end on August 10, and the elections for the Vice President will be held on August 6, 2022.

“I understand that my tenure in Rajya Sabha has been completed, but my political and social tenure has not yet been completed. I will continue to work with dedication and concern for society,” Naqvi told news agency ANI.

Meanwhile, Naqvi’s this statement is likely to fuel ongoing speculations of being the BJP’s candidate for the Vice President of India.

However, Union Minister Abbas Naqvi resigned a day before their Rajya Sabha terms were completed. With this, there will be no Muslim face in the Union Council of Ministers and among the BJP’s 395 Members of Parliament.