Following Harsh Vardhan's resignation today, senior BJP leader Mansukh Mandaviya has been given charge of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry. While Harsh Vardhan earlier held the Health Ministry, the Chemicals and Fertilisers Ministry was held by DV Sadananda Gowda.
Mandaviya's swearing-in was part of the cabinet rehaul of the Modi government ahead of the upcoming important elections. Modi presently has 77 ministers, of which 36 are new. 7, including Mandaviya, have been assigned a different ministry. Mandaviya was previously the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Union Minister of State for Chemical and Fertilisers in the Modi government. However, several top ministers, including Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', DV Sadananda Gowda, Santosh Gangwar, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Thawar Chand Gehlot and Prakash Javdekar have been cast out.