Sarbananda Sonowal to be next Union Petroleum Minister of India?

GUWAHATI: Sarbananda Sonowal, the former chief minister of Assam (2016-2021) could be given a berth in the Union cabinet as the petroleum minister replacing Dharmendra Pradhan, sources said.

However, the reports are yet to be confirmed ahead of a cabinet reshuffle by PM Modi as he aims to fill as many as 26 vacant Seats.

Since he vacated the CM post of Himanta Biswa Sarma, it has been reported that he will return to the Centre with a new responsibility.

Sonowal served as the Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of India, from 2014 to 2016. He was chosen to be the Chief Minister of Assam after the 2016 Assam Legislative Assembly election and he was the first Chief Minister of the state from Bharatiya Janata Party.

The former AASU leader has flown to Delhi in the recent past, possibly to hold discussions with central BJP leaders for his upcoming role.

According to reports, PM Modi is will rejig his cabinet to send out a political signal by correcting regional representation with an eye on upcoming polls.

The prime minister can have an 81 member council, while currently there are 53 ministers in PM Modi's cabinet. several of his leaders hold more than one ministry due to the exit of Shiv Sena, Shiromani Akali Dal, and the demise of Jan Lokshakti Party’s Ramvilas Paswan.

Modi will seek to introduce greater efficiency by reducing the burden on several ministers who hold multiple portfolios.

Another name which has been doing rounds for a while now is former Congressman and now BJP Rajya Sabha MP Jyotiraditya Scindia.

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