NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
The Bharatiya Janata Party now has as many as 56 members in the Union council of ministers following Monday expansion, while its National Democratic Alliance partners have only 20.
The 76-member Union ministry, one of the largest ever, has less than 20 members from the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Tamil Nadu, however, has the second highest number of nine ministers in the Vajpayee government, while Bihar tops the list with 11.
The break-up of NDA partners' representation in the government is as follows: Samata Party (4), Shiv Sena (3), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (3), Pattali Makkal Katchi (2), MDMK (2), Biju Janata Dal (2), National Conference, Janata Dal (United), Akali Dal and Rashtriya Lok Dal (one each).
Of the 13 new ministers inducted on Monday, two were from the PMK and one from the Shiv Sena. All others belonged to the BJP.
PTI
The Complete Coverage: Cabinet Reshuffle 2002
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