Modi Cabinet Reshuffle: Who Will Gain, Who Will Lose?

Media reports suggest that new ministers may be put in portfolios that are currently occupied by senior ministers.

UPDATE: Modi Cabinet 2.0: Who Won and Who Lost, The Complete List

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to reshuffle his 66-member cabinet at 11 am on 5 July after two years of governance.

Amid speculation and whispers about the future of the existing cabinet, 19 new faces are likely to be inducted. Tuesday’s reshuffle will be the first major rejig since Modi assumed office in May 2014.

While some ministers are likely to get promoted, names of ministers that could be ousted are also doing the rounds.

Who’s In and Who’s Out?

Modi’s council of ministers comprise 66 ministers, including the Prime Minister, but the Constitution permits as many as 82 ministers.

India Today claims to have accessed the entire rejig list. Following are the names that the channel says will make it to the cabinet.

Professional Expertise

• Subhash Ram Rao Bhamre
  
• MJ Akbar
  
• Arjun Ram Meghwal
  
• Anil Madhav Dave

State Government Experience

• Ramesh Jiganjini
  
• Purshottam Rupala
  
• Jaswant Singh Babor
  
• Mahendra Nath Pandey

Central Government Experience

• Fagan Kulaste
  
• Vijay Goyal
  
• Anupriya Singh Patel
  
• Mansukh Madaviya
  
• Rajan Gohen

However, only 14 names seemed to have made to the screen. News agency IANS adds to the list with the following names:

• Ajay Tamta
  
• SS Alhuwalia
  
• Anil Desai

The Prime Minister will also be filling up the vacancies in his cabinet. Sarbananda Sonowal, who became the Chief Minister of Assam in May this year, had left the seat of the Sports Minister vacant. A place is also vacant for a member of the Shiv Sena, according to NDTV.

A big name that might make it to the list is Prakash Javadekar, while other leaders such as Krishna Raj, a female dalit MP from Uttar Pradesh, Ramdas Athawale, another dalit leader from Maharashtra, Subhash Ramrao Bhamre and Mansukhbhai Mandaviya, a Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat may also get a berth in the revamped cabinet.

Faggan Singh Kulhaste, who was embroiled in the cash- for-votes scam during the UPA-1 rule, C R Chaudhary (Gujarat), Jasvantsinh Bhabhor (Gujarat), Rajen Gohain (Assam) and Ramesh Chandappa Jigajinagi (Karnataka) are also likely to be inducted.

No changes, however, are expected in the top four portfolios: Home, Finance, Defence and External Affairs.

Sources told NDTV that new ministers may be put in posts that are currently occupied by senior ministers. BJP chief Amit Shah is also likely to reconstitute his team in the first week of July, in what seems to be an organisational rejig for the BJP.

Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met his council of ministers and reviewed important projects and works of various ministries. In the meeting, which lasted four hours, union ministers made presentations on the performance of their ministries. In turn, Modi suggested that he would not allow ministers to sit easy, and will hold similar review meetings every three months.

In the review, the Power Ministry headed by Piyush Goyal was among the best performers.

Modi Wants More Vigour in the Cabinet

Modi had earlier discussed the cabinet reshuffle with BJP President Amit Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, and the three are are expected to meet again on Monday to make a conclusive list, reported The Indian Express.

In last week’s review meeting, Modi stressed upon speedy implementation of the projects, The Indian Express, reported, quoting sources.

He, reportedly, also expressed disdain towards the performance of certain ministries. Modi has allegedly demanded more “vigour, action and energy in the performance of the government.”

This could probably be indicative of young ministers getting inducted in the cabinet, while the old ones, are shown the door.

Also Read:
Cabinet Rejig: Will Those Above 75 Years of Age be Axed?

UP 2017 Elections Driving the Reshuffle?

While deciding upon reshuffle, Modi is likely to keep regional interests in mind, especially because of elections in Uttar Pradesh next year, reported IANS.

Union Minister of State and Muzaffarnagar MP Sanjeev Balyan is likely to be elevated as a minister with independent charge, as reported by The Indian Express. Following the same logic, Anupriya Patel could be inducted to garner OBC votes in UP.

Ramdas Athavale, a Dalit representative also could be inducted. The report also says that with erstwhile minister Vijay Sampla becoming party chief in Punjab, the state, which goes to poll next year, may get another representative in the cabinet.

Also Read:
Modi’s Evaluation: Power, Roads & Highways Ministries Top the List

(With inputs from PTI, IANS, NDTV and The Indian Express.)