Cabinet reshuffle on PM’s agenda: Najma may go, allies Sena and PDP set to come in

A top BJP leader said the expansion was discussed and almost finalised three weeks ago.

Armed with a fair assessment of his Council of Ministers over the last 10 months, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to undertake a reshuffle as well as expansion of the Cabinet.

A top BJP leader said the expansion was discussed and almost finalised three weeks ago. But certain compulsions held back the Prime Minister from effecting the move, said the leader who did not wish to be named. “It is likely to happen soon,” the leader said.

Besides performance of ministers, the two other considerations were age and accommodation of alliance partners, Shiv Sena and PDP. Giving more representation to the allies has become critical given the ambitious legislative agenda of land acquisition bill and the goods and services tax bill.

While Najma Heptulla, Union Minister for Minority Affairs, is likely to be appointed a governor, the government is still weighing the implications of dropping Kalraj Mishra, Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, a Brahmin face from Uttar Pradesh where elections are due next year.

Fresh inclusion from the allies could be Anandrao Adsul, Sena MP from Amravati, or Anil Desai, a Rajya Sabha MP. From the PDP, the party is likely to nominate Muzaffar Hussain Beig or Tariq Hameed Karra.

Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha, a Bhumihar face from Uttar Pradesh and an engineer by profession, is likely to be elevated as a Cabinet minister.

Source:: Indian Express