Nagpur/New Delhi: With all eyes focused on Sunday’s Cabinet reshuffle, one fact is emerging loud and clear. Nagpur will not be that lucky to have its representative as Railway Minister as is being speculated. The reason is amply clear: Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to be very happy with the performance of Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, the beloved son of Nagpur soil. Modi has decided not to “unsettle” the high-performing Gadkari’s portfolio in Sunday’s Cabinet reshuffle.
Similarly, according to sources, Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti, who got visibly upset over reports of her resignation, is likely to retain her position in the Modi Cabinet albeit with new ministry.
Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari whose name was doing the rounds for the job of Railways Minister will retain his ministry as Prime Minister Modi is said to be “very happy” with his performance. On the other hand, the current Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu who had offered to resign in the wake of a series of accidents, could be shifted to other ministry. It means who will be the next Railway Minister is a suspense to be unveiled on Sunday. Prakash Javadekar, Education Minister, could get the Rail Ministry.
Joining of JD-U to the Modi Cabinet is a foregone conclusion. It is only remains to be seen who will be inducted from the BJP’s new partner. Ram Chandra Prasad Singh and Santosh Kushwaha from JD-U are tipped to be ministers.
More than 10 new ministers are likely to be inducted into Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Council of Ministers on Sunday morning at 10:30 in a big cabinet revamp. Since late Thursday night, six ministers – Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Sanjeev Balyan, Faggan Singh Kulaste, Kalraj Mishra, Mahendra Nath Pandey and Bandaru Dattatreya – have resigned to make way for new faces.
Here are 10 updates on cabinet reshuffle:
Sources say BJP Rajya Sabha member from Maharashtra Vinay Sahasrabuddhe may get the Human Resources Ministry and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad too could get a new ministry. A new Defence Minister is also on cards. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley took an additional job as Defence Minister after Manohar Parrikar was shifted to Goa as Chief Minister.
Sadananda Gowda, who was demoted from Law to Statistics and Programme Implementation in the last reshuffle, and who has not been among the best performers, is unlikely to lose his place in the Cabinet because of elections in his state Karnataka next year. Two more BJP leaders from Karnataka could become ministers as the BJP tries to wrest the state back from the Congress.
Bhupendra Yadav, who is the BJP’s man in-charge of Gujarat, is among those likely to be made a minister. Assembly elections are due in the state by the end of the year.
