Modi may have smaller cabinet to keep tight control

He also pointed out that former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee monitored all ministries closely.

Patel meanwhile said that it would be wrong to say that Modi keeps a "watch" over all departments, and insisted he "reviewed key programmes and policies from time to time".

Dinesh Shukla, senior political analyst and former professor of political science at Gujarat University, who also taught Modi in the university, however said that Modi's "one-man show" style of functioning may not work in Delhi.

"In Gujarat it was a one-man show for Modi, but in Delhi, the situation will be different. It will be difficult to function that way, he will need to change his style a bit," Shukla told IANS.

Modi did masters in political science from the Gujarat University in 1983.