Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptullah resigned on Tuesday, a week after the Cabinet reshuffle. She will be replaced by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who will reportedly get independent charge of the ministry.
Minister of State for Heavy Industries GM Siddeshwara also stepped down from the post. He will be replaced by Babul Supriyo, who will be relieved of his earlier roles as MoS Urban Development and MoS Housing. President Pranab Mukherjee has accepted the resignations of both Heptullah and Siddeshwara.
In the Cabinet reshuffle last week, 19 new ministers were inducted, including MJ Akbar, who was made MoS for external affairs. Former human resource development minister Smriti Irani was given charge of the Textiles Ministry instead. She was replaced by Prakash Javadekar, who was moved from the post of the environment minister.
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