HUBBALLI: Speculations were rife on Friday over Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi’s induction into the Union cabinet as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to reshuffle his council of ministers during this weekend.
Joshi, however, dismissed the rumours while he was in the city attending various programmes.
If Joshi is inducted into the Union cabinet, an MP from Dharwad will be part of the central ministry after a gap of four decades.
Since Friday morning, Joshi’s name was being mentioned in New Delhi-based news channels along with Belagavi MP Suresh Angadi. It was stated that Modi’s focus would be more on poll-bound Karnataka and to consolidate party’s position in the northern part of the state, both these MPs were likely to be made ministers.
Speaking to Express, Joshi said, “It’s all media speculation. I am not expecting my induction into the ministry. I have not received any message either from the government or the party. It is up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I have not sought anything.”
Sources close to the MP also said Joshi has no idea about this. “He does not have backing of a particular caste, nor does he have the money to lobby for the ministry. If he is made a minister, it is only based on his merit. If Modi and Amit Shah identified his performance, he will surely be part of the new entrants to Modi’s team,” they added.
The party sources said caste was considered as the State is going to polls shortly and Joshi, being a Brahmin, does not fit in this caste calculation. Angadi, being a Lingayat, could make it into the cabinet. As of now two MPs from the State could be considered, out of that one might go to Lingayat community and other to coastal area, the sources added.
“Either Rajya Sabha MP Prabhakar Kore or Angadi may be called in. Mangaluru MP Nalin Kumar Katil has more chances of getting a berth. If at all the State gets a third berth, then Joshi might have a chance,” a senior BJP leader said.
Till Friday, neither Joshi nor Angadi received any message in this regard.