Mystery of the sixth Minister on PM Modi’s sacking list

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, July 07, 2016:  A birthday spared a sixth minister the axe when Prime Minister Narendra Modi recast his government on Tuesday. But it is only a temporary reprieve.
 

The prime minister added 19 ministers and dropped five in a cabinet reshuffle that saw big changes in portfolios. A sixth minister was to be laid off - GM Siddeshwara, a minister of state from Karnataka.
 
Mr Siddeshwara’s name was still on the new list of 78 ministers issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

It was his birthday that bought him two more days.

Sources say the BJP had asked him to resign because he was being replaced by another leader from Karnataka - Ramesh Kandappa Jigajinagi - who took oath on Tuesday.
 
But Mr Siddeshwara told his leadership that his supporters were celebrating his birthday with a big rally at his constituency in Karnataka’s Davangere.

He requested the party not to embarrass him by sacking him on his birthday. "I told them I can’t possibly come to Delhi on that day," the minister told NDTV.

The party agreed, but the decision stands.

Mr Siddeshwara has said he will consult his party leaders and may put in his papers today.
 
PM Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah held long consultations before Tuesday’s reshuffle aimed at rebooting the government ahead of a series of state elections.

The other ministers sacked were Sanwar Lal Jat, Nihalchand, Ram Shankar Katheria, Mansukh Bhai Vasava and Mohanbhai Kundaria.
 
With Mr Siddeshwara’s resignation, the strength of the council of ministers will be down to 77.