Modi government 3.0: Ready to accept any responsibility given by BJP, says Raksha Khadse

Raksha Khadse. Pic/PTI

With her induction into the new Union cabinet of Modi government 3.0 as a minister of state, BJP MP from Maharashtra, Raksha Khadse on Sunday expressed her readiness to accept any responsibility assigned to her by the party, reported news agency PTI.

Raksha, elected for the third consecutive term as an MP from the Raver Lok Sabha seat in North Maharashtra, stated, "I am ready for any responsibility given by the party," reported PTI.

Her father-in-law and former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse expressed immense happiness over Raksha finding a place in the Modi government 3.0 for the first time.

"I was never so happy in my life than today when Raksha received a call informing her induction in the Union cabinet. It is the biggest thing in her life. I cannot control my tears," said Eknath Khadse, a former BJP leader, reported PTI.

Raksha said her father-in-law helped her a lot in her political career, reported PTI.

"My career started because of him. I otherwise do not have any political background," she added, reported PTI.

Six MPs from Maharashtra were on Sunday inducted into the Modi government 3.0, with BJP securing four berths, and allies Shiv Sena and RPI (A) getting one each.

Notably, the NCP led by Ajit Pawar declined the BJP's offer of Minister of State (MoS) with independent charge, insisting on a cabinet berth for Praful Patel.

There were 8 ministers from Maharashtra belonging to the BJP and its allies, in the second term of the Modi government in 2019-24. This number came down to six on Sunday.

In the new cabinet, BJP MPs Nitin Gadkari and Piyush Goyal were retained as Cabinet ministers.

Raksha Khadse, BJP's lone woman MP from Maharashtra, and first-time MP Murlidhar Mohol were sworn in as Ministers of State.

Among BJP's allies, RPI (A) chief Ramdas Athawale was retained as an MoS with independent charge, and Prataprao Jadhav from Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde also took oath as an MoS with independent charge.

The NCP, led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, refused the MoS offer, demanding a cabinet berth for Rajya Sabha member Praful Patel due to his experience.

(With inputs from PTI)