NEW DELHI: The long-awaited expansion of the Union Cabinet is likely to take place on the evening of July 7, news agency ANI reported quoting government sources.
The expansion — the first since Narendra Modi assumed power for the second term in 2019 — comes ahead of key assembly elections lined up next year, including in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh.
Read AlsoAhead of Union cabinet rejig, govt creates a new ‘ministry of co-operation’NEW DELHI: Ahead of the much-anticipated Union cabinet expansion, the government has created a new‘ministry of co-operation’, sources said.
This ministry will provide a separate administrative, legal and policy framework for strengthening the cooperative movement in the country.
“It will help deepenWhile there has been no official word on the Cabinet reshuffle, a series of meetings in the government and the BJP have fueled the speculation that a big rejig is on the cards.
PM Modi has also held marathon meetings with Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh to reportedly give the finishing touches to his new Cabinet.
In another pointer to the imminent reshuffle, social justice and empowerment minister Thaawarchand Gehlot was appointed as Karnataka governor, causing yet another ministerial vacancy.
Key probables With the buzz over the Union Cabinet reshuffle and expansion gaining momentum recently, the names of several leaders who are likely to be inducted into the council of ministers have been doing the rounds.
These are some of the leaders who may find a place in the Union Cabinet …Jyotiraditya ScindiaThe Rajya Sabha member is said to be highly favoured for a key portfolio in the new Cabinet.
The scion of the Gwalior royal family had crossed over from the Congress along with his supporters, resulting in the fall of the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh.
Scindia was also instrumental in the BJP holding on to power in the crucial MP bypolls last year.
Sarbananda SonowalThe former chief minister of Assam was made to vacate the top post for Himanta Biswa Sarma following the BJP’s victory in the assembly elections in May.
Since then, he has been a strong probable for a Cabinet berth.
Before becoming Assam chief minister, Sonowal was Union minister of state for youth affairs and sports from 2014-16.
Sushil ModiHe was removed as the deputy CM of the state after the BJP-JD(U) came to power last year and is likely to be placated with a ministerial berth.
He is seen as a “hot probable” also because of his experience as well as strong reputation for mastery of facts and devotion to task.
Narayan RaneThe name of the former Maharashtra chief minister has also been doing the rounds ahead of the expansion.
Rane was part of the Shiv Sena and was removed from the party.
He later joined the Congress.
In 2017, he left the Congress to form his own party but later merged it into the BJP.
OthersBesides these, names of Bhupender Yadav, Anil Baluni and Sudhanshu Trivedi are doing the rounds while BJP MPs Ashwini Vaishnav and G V L Narasimha Rao are also being mentioned as probables.
Making room for alliesThough a coalition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s team currently has only one non-BJP representative in RPI chief Ramdas Athawale.
Shiv Sena’s Arvind Sawant and Shiromani Akali Dal’s Harsimrat Kaur Badal had pulled out of the NDA because of rupture in ties and LJP founder Ramvilas Paswan passed away earlier this year.
Thus, the BJP is highly likely to accommodate leaders from various allies in the new Cabinet.
JD(U)’s RCP Singh, Rajiv Ranjan Singh “Lalan” and Santosh Kushwaha are strong probables for finding a place in the expanded Cabinet.
Apna Dal (chief) Anupriya Patel from UP is also a favourite for a ministerial berth.
The Apna Dal (S) has been BJP’s ally since 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Pashupati Paras, who along with four LJP MPs dislodged Chirag Paswan as the leader of LJP, is also learnt to be looking forward to his inclusion.
His aspiration has the support of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar who reportedly played a key role in the split of Paswan’s outfit.
Another BJP ally All India Jharkhand Students Union may also get a berth, sources said.
Representation of statesSeveral important states, including poll-bound UP, are likely to find representation in Modi’s new Cabinet.
With assembly elections due next year, UP is likely to get a lion’s share in the Union Cabinet expansion.
Going by the caste arithmetic and initial indications, PM Narendra Modi might induct at least 4-5 new faces from Uttar Pradesh.
At present, in the 52-member Union ministry, there are 10 members from the state.
At least 20-22 new ministers are likely to be inducted in the rejig.
Representation of BJP MPs from West Bengal is also likely to go up.
Though the BJP failed to dislodge the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress in the state, it managed to make significant inroads after improving its tally to 77 seats this year from just 3 in 2016.
Thus, the BJP state unit is expecting to be rewarded with central ministerial berths.
The names of Bongaon MP Santanu Thakur and Cooch Behar MP Nishith Pramanik are among those doing the rounds as likely new faces in the Modi Cabinet.
Bihar is another state which is likely to see a boost in its representation, particularly due to the possible inclusion of some JD(U) leaders.
Sources told news agency ANI that four leaders from Bihar are likely to be included in the Cabinet, including two from JD(U) and one each from BJP and LJP.
‘A big shake-up’The expansion exercise comes against the backdrop of a massive review, which has stretched for weeks, undertaken by the BJP top brass of the works of Union ministers and the organisation against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic.
A BJP leader told PTI the reshuffle is expected to be a “big shake-up” with PM Modi addressing political challenges, including the assembly polls in five states early next year, and governance issues.
The current strength of the council of ministers is 53, besides Modi, and its maximum number can be 81.
(With inputs from agencies)