ISAS Briefs

Nearly six months after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government came to power in India, a much - awaited Cabinet expansion took place on 9 November 2014 with the induction of 21 new ministers. The load of some ministers has been made lighter, a few have got new responsibilities and there has also been an induction of fresh faces. Besides getting trusted ministers for key positions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his advisers have factored in regional and electoral interests. However, Shiv Sena's wrangling with the BJP over government formation in Maharashtra cast a shadow on the cabinet expansion. The Sena, one of whose MPs was slated to be a minister, boycotted the swearing - in ceremony