‘UP in Mind’, ‘Uninspired’: How Media Covered Modi’s Cabinet Rejig

A look at how Indian publications covered PM Modi’s cabinet reshuffle.

It’s no surprise that on Wednesday morning, the front page headline of every leading newspaper was the reshuffle of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet.

The rejig was not just a minor change, but a complete overhaul of the existing cabinet. While 13 new faces from Uttar Pradesh were inducted into the cabinet, the biggest shocker was Smriti Irani’s move from the Ministry of Human Resource Development to Textiles.

The national publications were split over whether the news point was the complete reshuffle of the Cabinet, or what is being called Irani’s ‘demotion’ to the Textiles Ministry.

Times of India

In an editorial titled ‘Cosmetic change: Biggest NDA Cabinet reshuffle gives precedence to politics over performance’, the Times of India said:

The changes appear cosmetic in nature, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi shying away from dropping non-performing Cabinet ministers.

Excerpt from the TOI editorial

The publication decided to treat the implication of the reshuffle as the news point.

“The PM is betting that the new-look team will do justice to his theme of gaon, garib aur vikas (village, poor and development).”

It seems like the upcoming elections are on the mind of the BJP.

The induction of three new ministers each from election-bound states of Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat is a sign of Modi’s priority. UP now has a whopping 16 ministers in team Modi.

Publications like Firstpost and The Tribune saw the reshuffle as the Prime Minister’s increasing efforts to keep the cabinet devoid of disparate views, and essentially concentrating power in his own hands.

Firstpost

Firstpost went to the extent of comparing Modi’s power in India to that of the President in the United States. In a piece titled ‘Cabinet reshuffle signals India inching towards presidential form of govt’, Firstpost argued:

One unambiguous message that emanates from Tuesday’s cabinet expansion of the Modi government is that the governance in India, premised on the ‘collective responsibility of the cabinet ministers’, has over the years mutated into a ‘presidential form’ of government – slowly echoing a singular power system, like in the United States.

Excerpt from the Firstpost article

The Tribune

The Tribune took it a step further by calling the reshuffle both “uninspired and uninspiring.”

In an editorial titled ‘Scraping the Barrel’ The Tribune said:

Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made it abundantly clear that his government was doing exceedingly well, he did not feel the need for any drastic departures or dramatic arrivals. This sense of prime ministerial self-satisfaction ensured that Tuesday’s exercise turned out to be both uninspired and uninspiring.

Excerpt from The Tribune article

Mint

In an article titled ‘Modi cabinet reshuffle tilts on Gujarat elections, Patel votebank’, the publication pointed out that the reshuffle was strategic, keeping in mind the upcoming elections in Gujarat.

Three of the 19 new ministers that Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought into his cabinet on Tuesday are from his home state Gujarat, indicating his party’s focus on the elections coming up in the state next year. The cabinet reshuffle is also seen as an attempt to appease the state’s influential Patel community.

Excerpt from the Mint article

The Telegraph

In a rather colourfully-worded lead story titled ‘Spinderella’, The Telegraph highlighted how former HRD Minister Irani was perhaps the biggest loser in the reshuffle.

... mid-way through the NDA government’s tenure, under-performance will not be countenanced, much less unbridled ambitions, notions of grandeur and delusions of “proximity” to the ruling brass and the RSS. Delivery on target would be rewarded conservatively.

Excerpt from The Telegraph article

The article also touched upon rumours that Irani had actually been freed up for the Uttar Pradesh elections:

Some spin-doctors suggested tonight that Smriti had been “freed up” for Uttar Pradesh. But a BJP source said: “As long as she was confined to nursing it as a Lok Sabha constituency, it was tolerated. The moment she began fancying herself as an Uttar Pradesh neta, the leadership’s antenna was raised.” 

The Indian Express

In an opinion piece titled ‘Modi Cabinet reshuffle: Is Smriti Irani move to textiles aimed at Uttar Pradesh polls?’, The Indian Express pointed out that Irani’s move to Textiles could actually be a way for the party to free her up to counter Priyanka Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh.

After giving Rahul his worst-ever scare in electoral politics – Rahul secured 4,08,651 votes, while Smriti Irani came an impressive second at 3,00,748 – Irani is perhaps the best bet in the BJP to take on the ‘youth’ leader in the Congress.”

Excerpt from The Indian Express article

Whether this is true or not, remains to be seen.

The Times of India, in another piece titled ‘Smriti Irani: Stunning rise and a sudden demotion’ traced Irani’s political journey. The piece pointed out that Irani had remained in controversy ever since she was appointed HRD Minister, and that may have something to do with her so-called demotion:

In the last few months, Irani was consciously trying to turn a new leaf by being amiable, but her temperamental nature had already done enough damage.

Excerpt from the Times of India article

Firstpost maintained that the reshuffle was an unambiguous message to the likes of Irani and Subramaniam Swamy. In a piece titled ‘Narendra Modi’s message to Smriti Irani: Don’t mess with govt image’ it said:

The implied message was clear – that those having self-inflated notions about themselves can enjoy all the freedom of speech and expression, but while sitting outside the government.

Excerpt from the Firstpost article