Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Named Union Culture and Tourism Minister

The Voice of Chandigarh :

In a significant reshuffle, BJP leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has been appointed as the new Union Culture and Tourism Minister, succeeding G Kishan Reddy. The swearing-in ceremony, which took place in the grand forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Union council of ministers take their oaths on Sunday evening.

Expressing his gratitude, Shekhawat posted on X (formerly Twitter) in Hindi, thanking Prime Minister Modi for entrusting him with the crucial portfolio. “The visionary Prime Minister honourable Shri @narendramodi ji has honoured me by giving me the important responsibility of the Union Ministry of Culture and Tourism. While performing my duties with utmost sincerity, I will make every possible effort to ensure gradual progress in the sector of culture and tourism in building a developed India. Many, many greetings and gratitude to my guide, honourable Modi ji!”

Shekhawat, who was previously the Union Jal Shakti Minister, took oath alongside 30 other cabinet ministers, five ministers of state with independent charge, and 30 ministers of state. His predecessor, G Kishan Reddy, has been reassigned to the coal and mines portfolios. Reddy, who had served as the Union Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Development of the Northeast Region since July 2021, will continue to play a significant role in the Modi administration.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured 293 out of 543 Lok Sabha seats in the 2024 elections, with no single party achieving an outright majority.

In the Modi 3.0 government, Rao Inderjit Singh has been appointed Minister of State in the Culture Ministry, while Suresh Gopi will serve as Minister of State in the Tourism Ministry. Shekhawat, born in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, in 1967, has been a prominent political figure, having been elected to the 16th, 17th, and now 18th Lok Sabha from Jodhpur. He thanked Prime Minister Modi for including him in the council of ministers for the third consecutive time, vowing to work diligently and meet the country’s expectations.

Prime Minister Modi’s core team, including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, and S Jaishankar, will retain their respective portfolios of home, defence, finance, and external affairs. Shekhawat, along with these top ministers, holds a postgraduate degree, with an M.A. and M.Phil in Philosophy from JNV University, Jodhpur.

Shekhawat’s predecessor, G Kishan Reddy, born in 1964 and affectionately known as ‘Kishananna,’ has a long-standing political career, having been closely associated with the youth wing of the Janata Party and maintaining strong ties in South India. As a sitting MP from Secunderabad, Reddy secured re-election in the recent general elections and has been a significant figure in several key events, including India’s G20 presidency last year.

Reddy’s tenure saw the implementation of crucial policies and decisions, furthering India’s cultural and tourism sectors. His optimistic prediction last August about the NDA government achieving a hat-trick in the 2024 elections has come true, reinforcing the administration’s ongoing influence and stability.