India’s health minister resigns ahead of cabinet reshuffle

Several Union Minister of India, including Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, today resigned from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet.

The development came hours before Modi's cabinet reshuffle this evening, media reports said quoting sources.

Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar and Union Minister Babul Suprio have also tendered their resignations. They were followed by some other ministers.

“Harsh Vardhan's resignation comes as the government battles criticism of its handling of the second wave of Covid in April-May, which ambushed India's health infrastructure and left tens of thousands desperate for oxygen, hospital beds and vaccine,” NDTV reported.

As many as 43 new members are set to be sworn in at 6 pm in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new cabinet. The new cabinet is likely to have 13 lawyers, six doctors, five engineers, seven civil servants, seven PhDs, three MBAs and 68 with Graduate Degrees, reports said.

In the cabinet reshuffle, the first in his second term, Modi’s new government will have a higher share of OBCs (Other Backward Class), younger leaders and women ministers, reports said.

Source: BSS