Not defence, Kataria to get other ministry

Two days after he was sworn in as a MoS for the first time and given the defence portfolio, Lalchand Kataria has been told not to take charge and that he will get some other ministry. HT reports.

Two days after he was sworn in as a MoS for the first time and given the defence portfolio, Lalchand Kataria has been told not to take charge and that he will get some other ministry.

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Kataria - a first time Lok Sabha MP from Jaipur Rural constituency - was among the 17 fresh faces inducted in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's council of ministers.

The apparent reason for the PMO's decision asking Kataria to wait is that Jitendra Singh, MoS (independent charge) of sports ministry was also given the charge of junior minister of defence.

Since Singh also belongs to Rajasthan, there was a rethink on having two MoS in the same ministry from the same state.

Kataria met the PM on Tuesday and after the meeting said that he would now take charge on Wednesday. But he refused to talk about the ministry he might join.