In cabinet reshuffle tomorrow, a new minister may take over information and broadcasting ministry - currently with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
Highlights
- Some new central ministers to be sworn in on Tuesday at 11 am
- BJP's Uttar Pradesh strategy key to changes in council of ministers
- A new minister may take over information and broadcasting ministry
In Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first major cabinet reshuffle tomorrow, expect a new Sports Minister - Sarbananda Sonowal from the PM's party created that vacancy when he moved to Assam as Chief Minister of the BJP's first northeastern government.
Also likely, say sources, is a new Minister for Information and Broadcasting - Arun Jaitley could be relieved of the portfolio so that he can focus completely on the Finance Ministry.
The Council of Ministers has 66 members including the PM; constitutionally, the most it can have is 82.
No changes are expected to the Big 4 ministries - Defence, Finance, Home and Foreign Affairs.
Those who are likely to join the government tomorrow met through the day with BJP chief Amit Shah. In the evening, Mr Shah visited the office of his party's ideological mentor - the RSS or Rashtryia Swayamsewak Sangh - to seek its endorsement of the new list.
Sources say the likely new inductees will include Anupriya Patel, 35, a parliamentarian from the Apna Dal, an ally of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh which votes next year. Ms Patel is a leader of the Kurmi caste.
The focus of the expansion will be on more representation for backward castes and Dalits as key states like Punjab and UP head for elections.
"Dalit representation is very low right now (in the union government). I know my name is there, (but) I don't know if the PM will give me a cabinet berth," said Ramdas Athawale of the RPI, a regional ally of the BJP in Maharashtra.
Parshottam Rupala, a strong Patel leader from Gujarat, is 61, and his addition to the government could help it deflect criticism in the PM's home state, where 22-year-old Hardik Patel has galavanised the traditionally powerful and rich caste against the BJP, demanding a share of government jobs and seats in colleges. Gujarat votes next year.
The few upper caste additions will reportedly include Anil Madhav Dave of the BJP, an environmentalist from Madhya Pradesh and Vijay Goel from Delhi.
Among those who have allegedly been circled for removal is Sanwar Mal Jat of Rajasthan. If that happens, backlash is possible - not only is he seen as a confidante of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, but he is believed to have a big base among grass root workers, and the Jats are a politically powerful community.
Two ministers above the age of 75 could be removed - Najma Heptulla and Kalraj Mishra. BJP sources say MJ Akbar, 65, a former journalist could be made a minister.