Jaitley may be shunted out of finance ministry

Arun Jaitley may be removed as Union Finance Minister, sources at the finance ministry have told National Herald.

If sources are to be believed, Jaitley may get the home portfolio with current home minister Rajnath Singh likely to be made the deputy prime minister in such a scenario.

It is reliably learnt that Jaitley met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah at 4PM at PM’s official residence, after which he left the venue. Modi and Shah had a separate meeting after Jaitley’s departure.

Later in the evening, Jaitley also met Union Defense Minister Nirmala Sitaraman, Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu, Heavy Industries Minister Anant Geete and Civil Aviation Minister Gajapati Raju at the Finance Ministry.

The Finance Minister also had a meeting with Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Chairman Sunil Chandra.

When quizzed by reporters at the end of the meeting, an evasive-looking Jaitley refused to divulge anything. He said that some major announcements would be made after the GST Council Meeting scheduled for tomorrow.