Team Modi has four new ministers

GANDHINAGAR - Eyeing civic polls scheduled in October 2010, Gujarat Chief Minister Narender Modi on Saturday administered oath of office to four new ministers.

Vasuben Trivedi, Praful Patel, Pradeepsinh Jadeja and Kanubhai Bhallala have been inducted in his council of Ministers, taking the existing list of ministers from 17 to 21.

The four were administered oath at the Raj Bhavan here.

It has been reported that the ministerial strength allowed for Gujarat is 27, or 15 percent of MLAs.

Earlier on Friday, it was reported that Modi would include six new ministers in his cabinet, and that one would be from the tribal belt, one woman MLA, and three from urban areas.

The induction of new ministers comes as a boost for Modi, as Amit Shah who was holding the post of Minister of State for Home is in jail for the last one month in connection with his role in the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case. (ANI)