Delhi’s political circles are buzzing with speculations of an impending cabinet reshuffle in the Modi government as Prime Minister Modi plans to conduct and extensive review of all the ministries and relieve the underperforming ministers of their duties. Since the advent of Modi government’s second term, there hasn’t been a single reshuffle in the cabinet.
Last Friday’s meeting between PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP President JP Nadda has 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 alley 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 a cabinet expansion with the Modi government currently consisting of 60 ministers with the upper limit of total ministries being 79.
According to Live Hindustan, around two dozen ministers have been reviewed so far and the rest will also be evaluated soon.
The BJP has a pipeline of leaders 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 which were necessitated. Currently, a Rajya Sabha MP, Scindia is expected to be inducted in 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.
Former Bihar Deputy CM Sushil Modi and BJP National Vice President Baijayant Panda are other notable names who might get a cabinet berth.
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.