New Delhi: The long-awaited expansion and reshuffle of the Union Council of ministers will take place on Tuesday morning, with an eye on the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls that are months away.
There is a likelihood that caste factors will come into play as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inducts new faces into his team. Mr Modi, talking to a select group of journalists on Monday evening, said on the expansion that it will reflect “Budget focus and priorities”.
Among those who may be dropped are health minister J.P. Nadda, minority affairs minister Najma Heptulla and minister of state for environment Prakash Javadekar.
With the caste factor coming to the fore, OBC MP from Uttar Pradesh Anupriya Patel’s name seemed to draw a lot of attention among the probables. Her party Apna Dal is a BJP ally in UP. The 35-year-old first-time MP who represents Mirzapur is an articulate legislator who puts forth her views on issues quite effectively and lucidly in the Lower House.
She was among the 20-odd MPs who met BJP president Amit Shah on Monday. Among BJP probables whose names are doing the rounds for possible induction into the government are Mr S.S. Ahluwalia, Mr Vijay Goel (Rajya Sabha member) and Mr P.P. Chaudhary, a Dalit MP from Bikaner in Rajasthan.
Sources said Mr Purushottam Rupala, a Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat, and Mr Ramdas Athawale, RPI Rajya Sabha MP from Maharashtra, were among the likely inductees. Ms Krishna Raj, a dalit BJP MP from Shahjahanpur in UP is on the list of probables.
Probable mantris meet Amit Shah
Mr Mahendra Nath Pandey, a Brahmin BJP face in UP who represents Chandauli, Mr Ajay Tamta, a Dalit BJP MP from Uttarakhand, that also goes to the polls next year, are on the list of probables.
Mr Arjun Ram Meghwal, a Dalit BJP MP from Rajasthan, who is the party’s chief whip in the Lok Sabha, Mr Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, from Maha-rashtra, and Mr Mansukhbhai Mandaviya, a Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat, could also get ministerial berths.
The names of Rajya Sabha MPs Anil Madhav Dave and Bhupender Yadav (both BJP) have been doing the rounds too. Many of them had meetings Monday with BJP chief Amit Shah, who is also likely to announce the party’s new organisational team soon.
Some ministers may also be dropped, sources said, while a few ministers of state might be promoted and the portfolios of some others see some changes.
