After the resignation of Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and RCP Singh, the stature of Smriti Irani and Jyotiraditya Scindia has increased. Both had resigned from the Union Cabinet today. The additional charge of the ministries of both has been given to other ministers. Jyotiraditya Scindia has been given additional charge of Ministry of Steel while Smriti Irani has been given additional charge of Ministry of Minority Affairs.
The Rajya Sabha tenure of Naqvi and RCP Singh ends on Thursday. Earlier in the cabinet meeting, PM Narendra Modi had praised both of them. Naqvi held the Minority Affairs Ministry while RCP Singh held the Steel Ministry.
By the way, there was speculation about Naqvi during the UP by-elections as well. There was a discussion then that BJP can field him from Rampur. But at the last moment his card was cut. Now there is no Muslim MP of BJP left in Parliament. BJP did not have any face in the Lok Sabha who was from the Muslim community.
In the Rajya Sabha biennial elections, BJP did not field Naqvi and Nitish did not field RCP from anywhere. After the end of his term, he was sure to go to the post of minister. However, there are speculations about Naqvi that the party may make him the Vice Presidential candidate of the NDA or the Governor of a big state.
RCP Singh was a Rajya Sabha MP of JDU. But due to estrangement with Nitish Kumar, he could not get the ticket of the Upper House again. His growing closeness to the BJP distanced him from his party. But it is believed that his proximity to BJP can give him some other big responsibility.