Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptulla's birthday was in April. While she accepted the wishes of her senior ministers, she was peeved that a younger colleague was insistent on hinting at her age to Cabinet colleagues. Heptulla had turned 76. According to the principle laid down by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, nobody beyond 75 years of age can be in his council of ministers.
It has been speculated for months that Heptulla will be given a gubernatorial assignment and her junior minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi will get the full-fledged charge of the ministry. Heptulla is keen to be the National Democratic Alliance's vice-presidential candidate.
The election is due in July 2017, but accepting a gubernatorial assignment would mean being away from Delhi and unable to canvass to convince the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership. The Vice-President is also the chairman of the Rajya Sabha, and the BJP is keen to find someone who can run the House ably.
Party sources say Heptulla faces tough competition from senior BJP leader and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu. He is also said to be keen to be the party nominee for the vice-presidential election.
