So the cabinet portfolios are out. If the election wasn't entirely about security & foreign policy then the cabinet picks certainly are.
Jaishankar as foreign minister is an inspired choice. Technocrat brought in from outside, didn't stand in any elections and dropped into the cabinet. Kinda like Manmohan was. He won't be motherly like Sushma was but his other attributes will make up for it. Son of K. Subramaniam. Former ambassador to US & China. So he knows both these countries well.
Amit Shah is big on nationalism so will handle any domestic security threats that come up. Could be more aggressive than Rajnath. Expect further gains in Kashmir. 35A is going, going, gone. 370, might not be.
Rajnath as Defense minister is a step up from home. If there was no major domestic disturbance in the last term its due to him. No major communal riot, naxal wins or terror incidents in non-AFSPA India. Thank Rajnath for that.
These last two are political heavy weights and their ministries will benefit from it. Both former BJP presidents. Meritocracy picks. Rajnath in particular is going to have more push than Parrikar or Nirmala every could. There is some major modernisation that needs to be completed if the military is to stand a fighting chance against adversaries.
Imagine Doval will return and complete the gang. Doklam was thanks to PM, Jaishankaar & Doval burning the midnight oil.
Security & foreign policy is going to be good with these people under Modi
And then there is the matter of finance where we have a political light weight like Nirmala. She is very good at learning and maybe she could be good at this but im not entirely impressed. Seriously ? they couldn't find anyone better. Or is her choice a political one, since she's from Andhra. There is a some serious work to do in the finance area and whether she is good enough for such a job....in any case her stint at defense will at least ensure defense acquisitions don't get stalled. She isn't likely to put up a fight.