Swami factor helps Prakash Javdekar get Cabinet post

Secrecy shrouded Prakash Javdekar's elevation. Sources say that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was keen to induct senior journalist and Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta as Minister of State (Independent charge) Human Resources Development ministry. The source confirmed that Dasgupta was, in fact, the hot favourite of Narendra Modi for the portfolio. But the hitch was that Dasgupta is a nominated Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha by President Mukherjee along with Dr Subramanian Swamy. Which means if a ministry is given to one, it cannot be denied to the other -- especially if that other person is Dr Swamy, given his penchant for controversy. So Swapan Dasgupta's loss turned to be Javdekar's gain. The MoS Environment was then identified as the person to replace Smriti Irani and elevated to the post of Cabinet Minister. On the day of the expansion of the Council of Ministers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called a few senior BJP leaders at 7:30 am and consulted them about the impending portfolio changes. It is believed Modi hinted to a few of the Cabinet ministers of the changes ahead and thanked them for their services to the telecom and HRD ministries. But none of the other ministers, at that point of time, knew of the elevation of Prakash Javadekar. On July 5th at 8:30 am Modi sent a note to President Pranab Mukherjee about his intention to induct Prakash Javadekar as a Cabinet Minister. Quickly another chair was added to the row where the ministerial designates were to be seated at Ashoka Hall in Rashtrapati Bhavan where the swearing-in ceremony took place. And of course, another paper was readied, for Javadekar to be sworn in. Such was the secrecy over Javadekar's appointment.