Seven union ministers, including Prakash Javadekar, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Harsh Vardhan, in the Narendra Modi cabinet resigned on Wednesday ahead of the expected ‘mega’ reshuffle of ministries. Those who quit areIT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, Labour minister Santosh Gangwar, Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal, Environment minister Babul Supriyo, MoS Women and Child Development Debasree Chaudhuri, MoS for Education Sanjay Dhotre and Chemicals Minister D V Sadananda Gowda. 

The resignation of the 12 ministers has been accepted by President Ram Nath Kovin.

In what is expected to be a major rejig, 43 leaders are expected to take oath this evening, including new entrants and promotions. This will be the first Cabinet reshuffle of the Modi government 2.0 and the PM is expected to bring in young faces, along with giving representation to those from different social and regional backgrounds.

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In the reshuffle, the PM is expected to bring in young faces, along with giving representation to those from different social and regional backgrounds, the news agency reported.

This comes ahead of the Assembly polls in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur. 

Former minister Chaudhuri submitted her resignation this morning, one of her close aides said. She was elected to the Lok Sabha from West Bengal’s Raiganj constituency in the 2019 general election.

Sources close to Ramesh Pohriyal said that the minister has resigned due to health reasons.

Among those whose names are doing the rounds as probable inductees in the Modi Cabinet are RCP Singh (JDU), Pashupati Nath Paras (LJP) and Anupriya Patel (Apna Dal).  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting with top ministers as well as the prominent BJP leaders at his residence at 6 pm on Wednesday. Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, BJP chief JP Nadda and party national general secretary BL Santhosh are expected to attend the meeting among others.