Before nine new ministers took their oath today, they were told by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that they “have been chosen with great consideration, so now please perform.”
Government sources have also said that the six ministers who were asked to resign late last week were dropped because they were evaluated as non-performers.
Among them, Rajiv Pratap Rudy was the first to submit his resignation on Thursday night as Minister for Skills Development. He made it clear that “the decision is not mine, it is the party’s.”
Sources said that Mr Rudy, a three-time MP from Saran in Bihar, landed at Patna on Thursday accompanied by his wife. When he switched on his phone, he reportedly was inundated with messages and calls from his office in Delhi that said BJP chief Amit Shah was trying to reach him. His office suggested he rush back to the capital.
Mr Rudy left his wife in Patna and flew back to Delhi in the same Indigo plane and drove from the Delhi airport to meet Mr Shah. Though the two men had met the previous week, at this session, Mr Rudy was politely told to quit; he was assured his services will be used by the party as it campaigns for crucial states.
Mr Rudy returned to Patna next day and traveled to his constituency.
