Late night on Monday this week, on the eve of the far-reaching state elections in Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi quietly made an important Cabinet reshuffle. He stealthily stripped Smriti Irani of the significant I&B portfolio, leaving her with just the minor Textile Ministry. The din of the poll results must have surely smothered Irani’s embarrassment and mortification.
But the 40-year-old’s enthusiasm and eagerness hasn’t diminished at all – in the last two days since her demotion, Irani has met delegations from Oman, to stakeholders from weavers’ co-ops, and has been tweeting her congratulatory messages to Modi and party president Amit Shah on their hard work in Karnataka.
No one can deny that Irani has had the most controversial and contentious run when she held the two crucial and high-profile ministries of HRD and, then I&B. As the youngest Cabinet minister ever appointed, and a Class XII high school graduate, Irani was given the charge of the country’s premier educational institutes, and curriculum of studies for schools and universities; and later, in I&B, to formulate and administer laws and policies for media and film industry.
So, what can Irani do to stay relevant and on top of the political sweepstakes with just the low-profile Textile Ministry in her charge? Remember the last time when she was sacked as HRD minister? Irani grabbed eyeballs, that too in the midst of an all-important BJP party leadership meeting in Goa, when the stung minister, who was also not invited, soon eclipsed the high-profile convention with hell and fury over an affront to her modesty inside a neighbouring FabIndia store, where she alleged a security camera was pointed towards her in the changing room.
While it’s anybody’s guess whether Irani will pull another stunt to embarrass the party again, here are five ways Irani can still call the shots and hold her position as Queen of Controversy and Quarrel:
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
