Sushma Swaraj, Maneka Gandhi, Rajyavardhan Rathore among notable omissions in Modi govt
New Delhi, May 30: Sushma Swaraj, J P Nadda, Suresh Prabhu, Maneka Gandhi, Rajyavardhan Rathore and Mahesh Sharma are among the notable omissions in the BJP-led NDA's second innings.
Despite winning their seats, eight-time MP Maneka Gandhi, six-time MP Radhamohan Singh, Sharma, Jayant Sinha, Anupriya Patel, Jual Oram, Ram Kripal Yadav and Rathore lost their ministerial berths.
Another key BJP leader, Nadda, who did not make it to the Cabinet this time was the health minister in the first Modi dispensation.
He could be the next Bharatiya Janata Party president as incumbent Amit Shah has joined the government.
Swaraj had opted out of fighting the polls due to health reasons while Arun Jaitley, who held the finance portfolio, too decided not to be a part of the new Union cabinet as he has been unwell and needed time for his medical treatment.
Others who decided not to contest were Suresh Prabhu, who held the civil aviation portfolio, Uma Bharati, the minister of drinking water and sanitation and Birender Singh, who was minister of steel - all of whom lost their ministerial berths.
Manoj Sinha, the minister of state for railways, Alphons Kannanthanam, the minister of tourism with independent charge, and Hansraj Ahir, the minister of state for home, were among those who not only tasted defeat in the elections but also lost their ministerial berths.
Former bureaucrat and minister of state for urban affairs (independent charge) Hardeep Singh Puri, however, retained his berth despite losing his seat.
Vijay Sampla, who was the minister of state, social justice and empowerment, was denied a ticket by the BJP from the Hoshiarpur (SC) Lok Sabha seat in Punjab.
Expressing his displeasure, Sampla had termed the saffron party's decision as "cow slaughter".
Known for his controversial statements, Anantkumar Hegde, who held the skill development portfolio, too has been dropped.
Other prominent faces who have failed to find a place in the council of ministers this time include Shiv Sena leader Anant Geete, senior Delhi BJP leader Vijay Goel, Pon Radhakrishnan, S S Ahluwalia and Ramesh Chandappa Jigajinagi, a Dalit leader from Karnataka.
While Radhakrishnan had lost from Kanyakumari parliamentary constituency, Ahluwalia had bagged the Durgapur Lok Sabha seat.
Assam leader Rajen Gohain, Lok Sabha MP from Tikamgarh in Madhya Pradesh Virendra Kumar and Rajasthan leaders, C R Chaudhary and P P Chaudhary were dropped as well.
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345 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran return home via Armenia
New Delhi (PTI): A group of 345 Indian fishermen, who were stranded in Iran amid escalating regional tensions, returned to India via Armenia on Saturday, officials said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan for assistance in return of the Indian nationals.
The Indian nationals arrived in Chennai this evening, the officials cited above said.
The circumstances that led to them being stranded in Iran were not immediately known.
"Thank FM @AraratMirzoyan and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen today from Iran, through Armenia to India," Jaishankar said on social media.
Over 1,500 Indian nationals have left Iran through land border crossings in Armenia and Azerbaijan since the start of the West Asia conflict over a month ago.
"A group of Indian fishermen, stranded in Iran, are returning home via Armenia today; their flight is expected to reach India this evening," a government statement said.
It said the Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the West Asian region, with the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community being accorded the highest priority.
It also made a mention of five Indians being injured in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
According to Abu Dhabi authorities, the Indian nationals were among the 12 people injured by debris from an intercepted missile.
"In an attack in Abu Dhabi, five Indian nationals were injured; four have been discharged, one remains under treatment," the Indian government's statement said.
It said the Indian mission in Abu Dhabi is extending "full" assistance and coordinating with local authorities, adding that their flight is expected to reach India this evening.
