New Union ministers to tour 212 LS constituencies

Ahead of Assembly polls, BJP’s Jan Ashirwad yatra to underline caste, gender inclusive cabinet

Newly sworn in ministers in the Narendra Modi government and those elevated to Cabinet status will be covering 212 Lok Sabha constituencies and travel over 19,567 kms in what is being termed as a “Jan Ashirwad” (People’s Blessing) yatra to be organised by the BJP from August 16. Prime Minister Modi was unable to introduce his Council of Ministers to Parliament at the start of the monsoon session as is customary because of the Opposition’s protests on the Pegasus snooping scandal and the three contentious farm laws. At that time Mr. Modi had decried the fact that his newly inducted ministers, who hailed majorly from marginalised communities, were not being given the usual courtesies by the Opposition. Soon after that, the BJP decided that a “Jan Ashirwad yatra” to “introduce” these ministers directly to the people would be undertaken. According to party sources, a schedule has been drawn up for each minister and the area he or she will have to cover.