Modi eyes top team as BJP sweeps to victory
31
NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party's landslide election victory will usher in a new government expected to steer India sharply to the right after 10 years of rule by the leftist Congress party.
Incoming premier Narendra Modi has never been in government at national level after spending the last 13 years as chief minister of Gujarat state.
The following is a list of some of the men and women who are likely to emerge as key players in the new Modi administration:
Amit Shah: Modi's most trusted aide, Shah is tipped to become his boss's cabinet enforcer with a post in the Prime Minister's Office.
Their association dates back to the 1980s when they were both part of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a volunteer Hindu nationalist organisation that is seen as the ideological fountainhead of the BJP.
A portly and bearded 50-year-old, Shah is highly regarded by Modi as a political strategist and was in charge of the BJP's campaign in the electorally crucial state of Uttar Pradesh.
However Shah is tainted by allegations from his tenure as home minister in Gujarat, including claims that he masterminded extra-judicial killings. He denies all charges.
Arun Jaitley: Widely tipped to become finance minister, Jaitley was one of India's most succesful lawyers before he became leader of the opposition in India's upper house of parliament, the Rajya Sabha.
The 61-year-old is also one of the most articulate and liberal voices of the BJP and is often the party's choice to address the media and defend Modi's sometimes controversial track record.
Jaitley is a former vice president of India's powerful cricket board.
Sushma Swaraj: Swaraj is the current leader of the opposition in the lower house of parliament and the BJP's most senior woman leader. Now aged 62, she became India's youngest cabinet minister in 1977 after the end of Indira Gandhi's emergency government.
A fiery orator, Swaraj was one of the few BJP leaders to oppose publicly Modi's elevation as the party's prime ministerial candidate.
While some analysts have predicted that she could be made to pay for her apparent disloyalty, others say she is too senior for Modi to snub and could become foreign minister.
Rajnath Singh: BJP president and arguably the most high-ranking member leader of the party after Modi, Singh is a former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and has previously served as federal agriculture minister.
Singh, 62, has been tipped to become Modi's next home minister and was one of a handful of BJP leaders to be invited to talks with his prospective new boss in Gujarat after the end of voting on Monday.
Like Modi and Shah, he also rose through the ranks of the RSS and was a physics lecturer before becoming a politician.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (31) Closed
May 16, 2014 04:31pm
Congratulation to Indians for their choice. Looks like BJP is heading for a landslide and is on course for the most resounding victory by any party for thirty years. Hope there would be better relations between the neighbours.
Recommend
0
May 16, 2014 04:41pm
Now Pakistan will see a mid term elections and the out come would be a landslide victory by any political party having roots in muslim nationalism. Our establishment and Army would be compelled to do this.
Recommend
0
May 16, 2014 05:21pm
@Shahzad Ahmed, why is that Mr. Ahmed ? I thought Pakistan is a sovereign nation with an independent focus. I think the electoral politics is something not regular there but here it's a regular reality for people in India from 1947. So, please watch the election process very closely and try to figure out the core realities. I know the media and some pundits have their doubts but isn't it wise to respect the mandate given by Indian public including all minorities in a certain manner. India and Pakistan are neighbors and should build a spirited partnership for future generations, enough of hate politics and lets begin new. I have really great hopes from good people on both ends, love and respect to our neighbors.
Recommend
0
May 16, 2014 06:11pm
Congrats to Indians for a change unlike Pakistani voters last year :-).... Dynasties have to go away. Notice that all the people mentioned above are highly educated. Lawyer, Physics professor, etc... When you compare these with Pakistani politicians, educated people are basically snubbed.
Recommend
0
May 16, 2014 06:34pm
Amit Shah out on bail. From murder charges. Right hand of Modi.
Recommend
0
May 16, 2014 07:17pm
Assalawalleh-ukum Rehmatullaihi Wa-Barkhatuh...
***It was common people win for India...
***There are good people with Positive Thoughts and People with Negative Thoughts in all communities be it in Hindu or Islam or Christianity or Buddhists or etc...Zzz.zz.z..
***But it funny and sad to see few comments.....it was like mosquitoes who keep us awake from sleep...lol
Whatever it is:
for the people with Negativities: I hope You get good thoughts from your God, Allah, Bhagwan etc and may you be proved wrong...
For the people with Positivities: I wish you all the Best and please know that this mind is the FIRST STEP towards success and Progress... May the Almighty shower his Blessings on you all...
But I and we are very happy with the WIN...AB KI BAR MODI SARKAR :-)
Recommend
0
May 16, 2014 07:21pm
BJP has always been a party full of educated and qualified members. Their think tank goes way too deep. I think their focus will be in making India a strong economic power. India is moving towards capitalism but I am not sure if this will help raise the living standards of the poor. Relationship with Pakistan will go on as they are now.....tepid....so that suits both the countries.
Recommend
0
May 16, 2014 07:40pm
@F. Riaz
I see you are frustrated with pakistani politicians and rightly so. I agree dynasties have to go.However encouraging ruthless and brutal killers shows your ignorance about the plight of minorities in India. Every party in india including BJP has educated politicians. These hard core Hindu elements are from the RSS. Read more about RSS and understand the situation on the ground in India before making irresponsible comments.
Recommend
0
May 16, 2014 07:58pm
Congratulations to Indian voters who snubbed the dynastic rule. I look at Mr. Modi as a refreshing change in Indo- Pak landscape. Hope his brilliance as " Achiever " will pave the way for useful & friendly relationship. And I trust he knows that only , " Give & take " will move us forward in solving issues that kept us apart for decades. Good luck Indians.
Recommend
0
May 16, 2014 08:46pm
@F. Riaz Education helps but more often times than not having a criminal record makes the difference.
Recommend
0
May 16, 2014 10:29pm
@Shahzad Ahmed Just cant stop laughing.... What a hopeless mentality.... But actually appreciate your honesty to put it as that.....
Recommend
0
May 17, 2014 12:04am
@Ganesh Actually Shahzad has a point. Read between the lines and stop being cynical by laughing and appreciating at the same time. Its not Modi who has won, rather Hindu Nationalists. Modi in his new position has to safeguard Muslims interst in India even more now to prove himself a National rather a Hindu leader. So it might even be good for Muslims and thus for India.
Recommend
0
May 17, 2014 02:24am
@Syed Shah
syed miyan, india passed that phase...we are thinking in terms of ports,bullet trains super speciality hospitals,drip irrigation solar ,management consulting etc....think beyond hindu muslim safety etc..isi yes they need to be worried...
Recommend
0
May 17, 2014 02:50am
@Sialkot wala
If the Indians want them, what is your problem? India will become much stronger under Modi. Just wait and watch.
Recommend
0
May 17, 2014 02:52am
@PUNJABI
With Pakistan, there will be a status quo. India will continue to gain strength, and be powerful economically.
Recommend
0
May 17, 2014 02:56am
@Syed Shah
India is predicted to become third largest GDP by 2050. Under Modi, that will be a decade earlier.
Recommend
0
May 17, 2014 05:54am
@Stacy
If you think Modi got elected only because of Hindu votes you are wrong. I have many Muslims friends who actually like his stand. Initially they hated him but as they saw the development of their businesses and the calm in Gujarat for the last 10 years...they voted for him...
Recommend
0
May 17, 2014 06:39am
@Ganesh it is a fear factor right.
Recommend
0
May 17, 2014 07:58am
@Syed Shah No it is not the Hindu Nationalists who have won. The winners are the people of India, which is a vibrant functional democracy. In India, Hindus and Muslims alike have voted for change, or else this landslide victory would not have been possible. Pakistan need not fear, as the Indians are focussed on growth, jobs and financial prosperity, Pakistan is far from their minds.
Recommend
0
May 17, 2014 09:31am
@nasir Fear comes where no commonsense prevails. Childish comment of him has no support from us Indians. We wish to become stronger and hence voted for Modi.
Recommend
0
May 17, 2014 10:45am
IMO, Arun Jaitley is the real power behind Modi and if it wasn't for him, Modi's party wouldn't have won.
Now it will be interesting to watch how the spoils are divided up, and who will be sitting on top tiers of the totem pole, and who will be on the bottom tiers.
Recommend
0
May 17, 2014 12:38pm
@Sialkot wala cool down man...even CBI has refused to register case against him who is controlled by Gandhi family
Recommend
0
May 17, 2014 12:42pm
@Syed Shah grow up man we are not living in 7 the century Arabia
Recommend
0
May 17, 2014 01:40pm
for my fellow Indians sake, I hope this government stays far away from communalism and delivers. jobs, economic growth and infrastructure as promised.
I am so sick of religious politics.
Recommend
0
May 17, 2014 01:43pm
@F. Riaz
Frist of all, thank you for the comments.
second of all, you know how corrupt these sub-continental politicians are. Whether in the name of Islam, Hinduism, they want to keep power.
I will judge Modi on how he delivers for the Indian people.
Recommend
0
May 17, 2014 02:11pm
@Sanjeev Yadav , surely you are not living in 7 century Arabia, but stop thinking like 7 century Bharatia.
Hyderabadi, Its just an illusion. All these high tech things are basically meant to help ordinary people on ground and ground realities are different. And dont be scared of ISI as my comment was not about comparisons.
Gary, I dont think I will be living till 2050 or even a decade earlier then that. So who cares about Indias GDP in 2050.
10 years ago Pakistan seemed on that path too. Things change. So predictions are good, realities are different.
Vaneeta, I never mentioned Pakistan in my comment. Indians generally have a Pakistan Phobia. Scared?
My comment indicated, that any society turning Nationalist or Religious loses. This process has already begun in Pakistan. It seems gaining momentum in India too. With two extremist Nuclear powers aside, things can go wrong fast and out of control.
Recommend
0
May 17, 2014 04:02pm
For those people who say that modi won from hindutva agenda, i want to give an information. There are many seats in utterpradesh having more than 40% muslim popullation and BJP has won that. In jammu and kashmir where majorities are muslims- BJP has won 3 out of 5 seats. This can not be possible if muslim popullation has not voted for BJP.
Recommend
0
May 17, 2014 09:20pm
@Shahzad Ahmed Muslim nationalism has been in Pak since day one. Asvusual all heads there in a rabbit hole. Which is why a implosion taking place
Recommend
0
May 17, 2014 09:22pm
@Sialkot wala so? Murder is everywhere in Pak. Top to bottom. At least we respect the law and peoples choices from who they worship to who they VOTE for
Recommend
0
May 19, 2014 11:37am
@Anup I am sorry if i hurt Indian sentiments on Modi. My thoughts are based on his history of communal politics the Gujrat riots for which most indian muslims accuse him, the State department who restricted him to visit states. Are they all wrong? I hope he must be a changed person he is the PM of all Indians 1.25 B+. His actions and moves will be closely monitored here in Pakistan and will help us define our strategy.military and otherwise. Many congrats Mr Modi
Recommend
0
May 20, 2014 04:57am
@Shahzad Ahmed, you are welcome to have your opinions in a democracy and that's anyone's fundamental right. The issue here was about your own democracy which was derailed many times and made a big difference to the society. Why you want to make a sacrifice of your democratic rights because someone you don't like is elected in India ? As far as questions on Mr. Modi and his popularity is something one needs to understand by looking at Indian overall situation. A clear mandate is given to revive the economy and not for fighting wars against neighbors. Many like me have a great hope in the future without any friction and with lot of friendship. The most important expectation for us is having a consensus within policymakers and establishments in Pakistan. Else policy makers always try to create a bridge and establishments break it with some Kargil like blunder.
Recommend
0
