NEW DELHI, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi might retain the portfolio of defense minister in the new cabinet which is due to be sworn in Monday, according to local media reports.
Some 45 people, including key Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj, will take different key posts like home, finance and foreign ministers and national security advisor, said local TV channel Times Now.
Ahead of the oath-taking ceremony, scheduled at 18:00 p.m. at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace, Modi said he would not have a large cabinet and will consolidate portfolios.
"Keeping our commitment to 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance' -- we have made an unprecedented and positive change in ministry formation," he said in a tweet.
Modi also paid a visit to the tomb of Mahatma Gandhi in Delhi Monday ahead of the swearing-in ceremony.
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