New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi late on Monday evening effected a mini-but-significant reshuffle in the Union council of ministers as Smriti Irani was divested of the key information and broadcasting portfolio and her deputy Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore was given independent charge of the ministry.
However, clear signs that she may have lost favour with 7 Lok Kalyan Marg came when the official delegation to the ongoing Cannes film festival which Ms Irani was due to lead, was ultimately headed by Central Board for Film Certification chief Prasoon Joshi.
Her exit from the information and broadcasting ministry has ushered in a moment of sunshine for Mr Rathore, a former Army officer and Olympian, who has remained in the shadows as a junior minister in I&B though last year he had something to cheer for when the Prime Minister made him minister for sports and youth affairs. A Rashtrapati Bhavan communiqué said Mr Rathore has been assigned independent charge as minister of state in the ministry of information and broadcasting.
