Narendra Modi led NDA Government on Sunday had third reshuffle since formation in May 2014 inducting a fresh set of ministers. Nine new ministers were included in council of ministers and four were promoted to Union Cabinet.
Most media not only had it all wrong about who gets which ministry, but they even went on a different tangent when Nirmala Sitharaman swore in as India’s first full time female Defence Minister. Previously, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who had chosen to handle the portfolio as PM herself, handled it briefly. However, most media houses which claimed to have exclusive information about Cabinet reshuffle had it all wrong.
Times Now had an exclusive story on how Arun Jaitley, who was handling additional charge of Defence, will retain the same.
In fact, even as ministers were swearing in, NDTV journalists were busy “Breaking” news through their exclusive sources that Jaitley is retaining Defence.
no change in Defence – jaitley to get MOS to help him in defence- NEWSBREAK from @ndtv‘s sunil prabhu #cabinetreshuffle
— Suparna Singh (@Suparna_Singh) September 3, 2017
The sources at NDTV were in full form.
#CabinetResuffle : lots of talk of Suresh Prabhu moving to Environment
— Suparna Singh (@Suparna_Singh) September 3, 2017
Except, Prabhu is now the Minister of Commerce and Industry.
Breaking : Arun Jaitley to remain Defence & Finance Minister, Piyush Goyal gets Railways #CabinetReshuffle
— sonia singh (@soniandtv) September 3, 2017
Before that the sources were of the opinion that either Sushma Swaraj or Suresh Prabhu might get Defence.
#cabinetreshuffle : Sushma Swaraj or Suresh Prabhu for Defence, say reporters now. Will be clear soon.
— Suparna Singh (@Suparna_Singh) September 3, 2017
While some wondered if it could be Nitin Gadkari
Breaking: 9 new ministers as of now: no major surprise except Hardeep Puri. So will @nitin_gadkari be defence minister or a dark horse?
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) September 2, 2017
But earlier, Economic Times had said Gadkari could be made the Railways Minister and Prabhu to be shifted to environment ministry. There were also speculations that Radha Mohan Singh could be asked to go whereas he continues to remain the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister. NDTV sources also said that “Janata Dal (United)’s Ram Chandra Prasad Singh and Santosh Kushwaha are tipped to be ministers” while neither of them were made ministers.
Sources at Times of India also said AIADMK leaders, Thambi Durai and K Venugopal, may also be inducted in the cabinet.
One thing was yet again clear that no leaked stories make their way to media lobbies.
Big takeaway from reshuffle:No Journo, even those who claim to be well connected, has any clue what Modi & Shah are planning.All were wrong!
— vir sanghvi (@virsanghvi) September 3, 2017
Others agreed too.
3+ years as PM & @narendramodi‘s ability to spring big surprises is undiminished & unchallenged.Never fails to catch talking heads off guard https://t.co/LJcedTeSlC
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) September 3, 2017
Even as some senior journalists hid their frustration at not being in the know of who gets which ministry behind series of emojis.
Gotta hand it to @narendramodi ;
Oath over,no one still sure who gets which ministry. Classic ‘supremo’ politics of keeping all on edge!??— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) September 3, 2017
