A day after they were sworn in, the Union Ministers were allocated portfolios on Monday, which saw many senior leaders, including Amit Shah and Nirmala Sitharaman, retaining their portfolios. Many took to X to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their new responsibility.
J P Nadda
Union Minister J P Nadda has promised to do everything to ensure better healthcare infrastructure and facilities, his first reaction since portfolio allocation.
The former BJP chief was allocated the portfolio of Union Health Ministry and Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, a day after he took oath as a cabinet minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.
He took to X to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his induction into the Cabinet. "Grateful to Hon. PM Shri @narendramodi ji for trusting me with the roles of Minister of Health and Family Welfare, and Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers. Modi 3.O is steadfastly committed to the welfare of the people. In line with this, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) will make every effort to ensure better healthcare infrastructure and facilities, ensuring no one is left behind in receiving better treatment. Additionally, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers will contribute to every extent to realizing PM Modi ji's vision of 'Viksit Bharat'," Nadda wrote on X.
Before he took over as the BJP President, Nadda had held the same portfolio in the Modi government's first term. His term ended in January. He was given a six-month extension to oversee the Lok Sabha 2024 elections. The 63-year old is the sole representative from Himachal Pradesh in the BJP-led government.
Rajnath Singh
Rajnath Singh, who retained the defence portfolio, too expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his continued trust and confidence in him.
"I shall continue to serve our motherland as India's Defence Minister," Singh said on 'X'. "Safeguarding India's border will remain our topmost priority and we shall continue protecting India's integrity & sovereignty. Under the visionary leadership of PM Modi we shall rededicate ourselves to strengthen 'Make in India' and take defence manufacturing & exports to greater heights," he added.
S Jaishankar
Retaining his position as the new External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar told reporters that it was an immense honour for him to be given the responsibility again.
"In the last term, this ministry performed exceptionally well. We delivered the G20 presidency. We took on the challenges of COVID including, Vaccine Maitri supplies. We also were the centre of crucial operations like Operation Ganga and Operation Kaveri. In the last decade, this ministry under the leadership of PM Modi has become a very people-centric ministry. You can see that in terms of our improved passport services, community welfare fund support that we give to Indians abroad," he said.
Ashwini Vaishnaw
Ashwini Vaishnaw is another minister who retained his post as Railway Minister. He told reporters that railways will have a very big role in the government. "In the last 10 years, PM Narendra Modi has done a lot of reforms in railways. Be it the electrification of railways, construction of new tracks, new types of trains, new services, or redevelopment of stations, these are the major achievements of PM Modi in the last 10 years. And the PM has kept railways in focus because the railway is the common man's mode of transport and a very strong backbone of our country's economy, so there is a lot of focus on railways," he said.
Bhupendar Yadav
Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav too thanked Modi for giving him the responsibility. "I will work with full readiness to discharge this responsibility. Mission LIFE was started by PM Modi in the Glasgow COP as a very big action program for the environmental crisis in the world. Today, Mission LIFE is going on all over the world with the help of sustainable development and mindful consumption. PM Modi's 'Ek ped maa ke naam' campaign should be done with utmost responsibility to keep our Earth green. Many steps have been taken by this ministry in the last 10 years under the leadership of PM Modi and we are moving ahead taking environment and development together," he added.
G Kishan Reddy
G Kishan Reddy, the new Union Minister from Telangana, too reacted to his appointment as the new Union Coal and Mines Minister, stating that he would make efforts to see that there is no shortage of coal in the country.
He said coal plays a key role in the country's development and he would hold discussions with officials to prepare a plan of action for the two departments and the agenda for 100 days. "There used to be power cuts in the country before Narendra Modi (became prime minister). The power cuts were due to the unavailability of coal and, lack of supply of coal. After Modi ji came, he unveiled a new India without power cuts by increasing coal production," Reddy said.
"The country is being made as one without power cuts by increasing power and grid connectivity in all states. Definitely, in the same direction, we will think of avoiding the shortage of coal and how to improve production in the days to come," he said.
Chirag Paswan
The LJP leader too took to X to announce his new responsibility. "Beginning of a new innings with new responsibilities under the leadership of the Prime Minister! I will give a new identity to the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries in the country and the world with new technology," he said.