New Delhi: Amidst reports suggesting Manohar Parrikar would be the country's new defence minister, the Goa Chief Minister on Wednesday night chose to keep cards close to his chest.
The Goa Chief Minister met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 7 Race Course Road here last night, but decided to remain tight-lipped on speculations doing the rounds. "The Prime Minister did not talk about my joining the Cabinet. We discussed Goa issues," said the IITian.
Earlier in the day, Parrikar met Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah and later said, "I can comment on it only after meeting the Prime Minister. Let the Prime Minister who has invited me comment."
The summoning of Parrikar, state party president Vijay Tendulkar and organising secretary Satish Dhond to Delhi yesterday for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah has only lent credence to the rumour that Parrikar's induction in the central Cabinet is nearly certain.
A Cabinet reshuffle is on the cards, well-placed sources said on Wednesday, adding that it may take place before PM Modi leaves on a three-nation tour on November 11.
The sources said the reshuffle was most likely to take place on November 09.
Arun Jaitley currently holds the additional charge of Defence Ministry.
Besides the Defence Ministry, the charge of Rural Development Ministry also awaits a full-time minister. The charge was given to Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari after Gopinath Munde's death.
Ravi Shankar Prasad (information technology and law) and Prakash Javadekar (information and broadcasting, and environment) are also handling two ministries each.
The other BJP leaders whose names are making rounds for induction into the Cabinet include Yashwant Sinha's son Jayant Sinha and Hansraj Ahir.
