New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi could reshuffle and expand his council of ministers after Makar Sankranti next month. Speculation is rife that the reshuffle and expansion could see two ministers of state — Jayant Sinha and Manoj Sinha — getting promoted or being given new portfolios.
Mr Jayant Sinha is currently minister of state (MoS) in the finance ministry while Mr Manoj Sinha is MoS, railways. An economist could be brought into the finance ministry.
With the crucial Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections scheduled in early 2017, one of the Cabinet ministers from the state could be given a key election assignment by early next year or after the expansion. Though the BJP had won 71 of the total 80 parliamentary constituencies in UP during last year’s general elections, political analysts are claiming that the main electoral battle will be between the SP and the BSP in 2017. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself represents UP’s Varanasi parliamentary constituency.
Speculation is also rife that two ministries — defence and human resources development (HRD) — could be headed by new ministers. Manohar Parrikar currently holds the defence portfolio while Smriti Irani is the HRD minister.
MoS (steel and mines) Vishnudeo Sai could also be awarded with a key post in Chhattisgarh, whose Chief Minister Raman Singh is facing the Opposition’s onslaught over alleged scams and is under pressure to quit. Sources disclosed that the Prime Minister had himself apprised Mr Sai about the key task he is likely to be given either during the reshuffle or later.
From BJP ally Shiv Sena’s quota, the names of MPs Anil Desai, Anandrao Adsul and Prataprao Jadhav are doing the rounds to be accommodated in the Union council of ministers.
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