If the stories of the mainstream media are anything to go by, the Modi government is planning a cabinet reshuffle very soon. Some underperforming ministers can be dropped and many new faces, including Jyotiraditya Scindia, Dinesh Trivedi, Bhupender Yadav, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Varun Gandhi, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal can be inducted into the new cabinet. Since the advent of the Modi government’s second term, there has not been a single reshuffle in the cabinet.
#Exclusive #Breaking on @thenewshour with Navika Kumar | Top Govt Sources to TIMES NOW: New face probables in rejigged Modi Cabinet
1.Jyotiraditya Scindia
2.Dinesh Trivedi
3.Bhupender Yadav
4.Ashwini Vaishnaw
5.Varun Gandhi
6.Jamyang Tsering Namgyal | #CabinetReshuffleScoop pic.twitter.com/5vEXdoXO3t— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) June 17, 2021
Two weeks ago, a meeting between PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda set off speculations about an impending cabinet reshuffle in the Modi government. In fact, Prime Minister Modi has been holding various meetings with Union Ministries in different batches, where Nadda has been present — an indication that the meetings were about performance review.
The BJP’s allies in the NDA have already begun lobbying for a cabinet berth with Apna Dal’s Anupriya Patel recently meeting Amit Shah. Anupriya Patel’s Apna Dal will be a key ally for the BJP in the upcoming UP Assembly elections with Patel being a Union Minister in the previous Modi government but is yet to be inducted in the second term of the Modi government.
There is also the possibility of an increase in the number of ministers with the Modi government currently consisting of 60 ministers with the upper limit of total ministries being 79.
The BJP has many leaders in the pipeline who have been patiently awaiting a cabinet berth. First in the line is Jyotiraditya Scindia, who after his defection from Congress in 2020, has proved his mettle by first bringing down the Kamal Nath government and subsequently ensuring the stability of the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government by winning the majority of the seats in the by-polls. Currently a Rajya Sabha MP, Scindia is expected to be inducted into the Modi government whenever there is a cabinet reshuffle.
Next in line is former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who graciously stepped aside for Himanta Biswa Sarma and ensured that Assam BJP is firmly united behind Sarma, will also likely be inducted in the Modi government.
Dinesh Trivedi, the former Union minister and senior TMC leader who jumped ship to join the BJP a few months before the Bengal Assembly election, might also be inducted in the party given the rising importance of West Bengal for BJP.
Former Bihar Deputy CM Sushil Modi and BJP National Vice President Baijayant Panda are other notable names who might get a cabinet berth. Most of the other names are expected to be from Uttar Pradesh including Varun Gandhi, who will probably get a cabinet berth because the party wants to keep him away from Uttar Pradesh’s politics and the 2022 assembly election.
Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, if inducted, would arguably be the first minister who represents a constituency of Ladakh region. In the last few years, his speeches in the parliament have been well received and he would probably get an important portfolio.
Importantly, the cabinet reshuffle will also give the BJP a chance to solidify its relationship with its allies ahead of the five state elections next year, with currently only Republican Party of India’s Ramdas Athawale finding a place in the cabinet. Members of allies like Janata Dal (United), Apna Dal and perhaps AIADMK might also find a place in the cabinet.