Cabinet reshuffle on Sept 3: What can we expect?
PM Narendra Modi will reshuffle his cabinet on September 3. A dozen new faces are expected even as eight-nine current ministers have put in their papers. The upcoming reshuffle, the third of the Modi government, will reportedly be based on performance of ministers, upcoming assembly elections, regional balance and 2019 LS polls. The current strength of the cabinet is 73. Know more here.
Cabinet reshuffle: Several ministers quit amid speculations
The resignation of several ministers has set in motion a major reshuffle in the Narendra Modi government, sources said. According to reports, four resignations have been confirmed- Skill Development Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, MoS HRD Mahendra Nath Pandey and MoS Water Resources Sanjiv Baliyan. Some reports claimed Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti quit too, but she dismissed such speculations.
More about the fresh resignations
Almost all who resigned met BJP chief Amit Shah first. While Bharti and Mishra met him separately in the last two days, Rudy met him last week. Two others- Steel Minister Choudhury Birendra Singh and MoS HRD Upendra Kushwaha— also called on him. One who resigned said he had been asked to quit. This reshuffle will be the third; the last was in July'16.
After back-to-back derailments, will Suresh Prabhu retain Railways?
In recent times, Manohar Parrikar (Goa CM) quit Defence, Venkaiah Naidu (vice-president) quit urban development and I&B, and Environment Minister Anil Dave died. These charges went to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Textiles Minister Smriti Irani and Science Minister Harsh Vardhan respectively. There is uncertainty about Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu after two major derailments recently; speculations are Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari will get the ministry.
What else can happen in the reshuffle?
New NDA joinee JD(U) and possible joinee AIADMK will need to be accommodated. A surprise could be NCP, whose relations with Congress have soured recently. CMs of BJP-ruled states, including Maharashtra's Devendra Fadnavis, may be headed to Centre based on a performance analysis. Modi may also induct new faces from poll-bound states. Sources say the Agriculture Ministry, MSDE and MEA might get new ministers.
