Who will be the next I&B Minister?
While some in the industry believe Anurag Thakur will retain the important portfolio, others speculate over a range of possibilities including BJP allies bagging the post
As the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance gears up for his oath ceremony on June 8, there is a huge tussle among BJP and its allies over cabinet portfolios, with there being multiple candidates this time.
While party insiders say that the party would like to keep the most crucial portfolios like Home, External Affairs, Defence and Finance with itself, speculations are high about who would handle the plum portfolio of Information and Broadcasting (I&B).
In the previous government, Anurag Thakur held the berth. Thakur, who had been the BCCI chief in the past, had also handled the Youth Affairs and Sports portfolio.
Industry leaders said he did his job well. He was able to spearhead some policy reforms, such as passage of the Cinematograph Bill, amendment to Cable TV Act, approval for the community radio broadcast, satellite uplinking policy and opening up print media for foreign investment, allowing 100 percent FDI in advertising and films.
Some believe that Modi may give him the post again as reward for good work, but politics doesn't work that way.
“Thakur is likely to be included in the Cabinet for sure as he is the youth face of the party. What goes in his favour is his clean image and closeness to PM Modi. However, only Narendra Modi will know who will get which ministry,” quips a top BJP leader.
A lot of factors such as region, caste, education, age, good image and administrative experience play a role in deciding the plum ministries. Thakur was a four-time MP when he was given the MIB responsibility.
Based on these lines, there would be many more contenders for the job this time. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Guna, MP), Piyush Goyal (Mumbai), Jitin Prasada (Pilibhit, UP), Dharmendra Pradha (Sambalpur, Odisha), Kiren Rjiju (Arunachal), Rajiv Pratap Rudy (Bihar), Mansukh Mandaviya (Gujarat) could be considered for the MIB, say political observers.
They all have been ministers in the past, are educated, suave and articulate. Dushyant Singh (Jhalawad, Rajasthan), a four-time MP could also be considered for the post, some believe.
Observers don’t rule out the possibility of the ministry being given to allies like Apna Dal, JDU or TDP. Apna Dal chief Anupriya Patel (Mirzapur, UP), for instance, could be a good candidate. She has been the MoS in the previous government.
There was no clarity over the matter till the time of writing this story. Political analysts say industry will have to wait till at least June 8 or even more to know who gets lucky this time.
In the past, popular leaders like Vallabhbhai Patel, Indira Gandhi, Lal Krishna Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Pramod Mahajan, Arun Jaitely and Smriti Irani have held the ministry.
