File pic: Murli Manohar Joshi

Narendra Modi's cabinet will not include Murli Manohar Joshi, who was a key minister in the last BJP government. Mr Joshi reportedly did not make it to the list because of Mr Modi's "below 75 years" rule.Mr Joshi, 80, was the Human Resource Development Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. Till Sunday, his name was being discussed among the probables for the new cabinet.That the veteran leader would not be part of the new government, was confirmed when he was not among the visitors at Mr Modi's tea party at Gujarat Bhawan this morning. Mr Modi had invited only ministers to be."It is the PM's prerogative to decide his cabinet," said sources close to Mr Joshi.The 75-year cut-off leaves many former ministers out, including LK Advani, who was Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister during the Vajpayee regime, Shanta Kumar and BC Khanduri.In the list of 40-odd ministerial contenders, only two are above 70 - Najma Heptulla, 74, and Kalraj Mishra, 73. Most leaders are in their 60s.

Sources say 75-plus leaders had been told not to expect major responsibilities.Mr Advani was reportedly keen on being Lok Sabha Speaker but Sumitra Mahajan is tipped for that post.