Jitanram Manjhi Joins As Cabinet Minister & Shobha Karandlaje as MoS In MSME Ministry

New Delhi, Jun 11 (KNN) In a cabinet reshuffle, Prime Minister Modi has inducted Jitan Ram Manjhi, founder of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), as a Cabinet Minister for the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).

Manjhi, who hails from Bihar and belongs to the Mushahar community, served as the state's Chief Minister briefly in 2014-15.

The 68-year-old leader has had stints with various parties like Congress, Janata Dal, RJD and JD(U) in the past.

Known for advocating Dalit causes, Manjhi's political journey has seen many ups and downs, including leading his own party that won just one seat in 2015 Bihar polls.

Manjhi replaces Narayan Rane as the MSME minister, a portfolio earlier held by Nitin Gadkari in the previous term.

His experience in state politics is expected to help address the needs of the MSME sector that the Modi government aims to promote further.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje has been appointed as Minister of State in the MSME Ministry.

The 58-year-old won the recent Lok Sabha polls from Bangalore North with a massive margin, becoming the first woman MP from Bengaluru.

An RSS member from Karnataka, Karandlaje earlier served as MoS Agriculture in Modi's previous term.

The induction of the two leaders is part of the Prime Minister's efforts to give representation to different sections ahead of the 2024 general elections.

(KNN Bureau)