Smriti Irani gets I&B ministry after Naidu resigns

Minister for Textiles Smriti Irani will hold the additional charge of the important information and broadcasting ministry, the government announced on Tuesday.

The move comes after Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday resigned after he was chosen as the National Democratic Alliance’s candidate for the vice presidential election.

A source said Naidu has tendered his resignation. He was holding two portfolios of information and broadcasting, and housing and urban affairs.

“Although Naidu was not required to resign technically, he has tendered his resignation to set high political standards as he has entered the electoral fray (for vice presidential position)” he said.

The urban development portfolio, which was with Naidu, has been given to Narendra Singh Tomar, who is the minister for rural development and panchayati raj.