Narendra Modi's Cabinet reshuffle may see non-performers exit

The Narendra Modi government might witness expansion before the start of second half of the Budget Session scheduled on April 20. While the second expansion of the Cabinet will see new faces, many from allies including the PDP and the Shiv Sena, sources claimed that a few non-performing ministers may face the axe.

The upcoming session is set to be crucial as the government has to take up the Land Acquisition Bill in the Rajya Sabha that faced stiff opposition in the first half of the Budget Session.

The expansion and reshuffle exercise of the Cabinet will take place after the two day national executive meeting of the BJP, starting on April 3 in Bengaluru. The party's national executive was recently reconstituted and many prominent names, including Union ministers Smriti Irani, Najma Heptulla, Mathura MP Hema Malini and others, did not find a place in it.

The BJP has already sealed the deal with the Peoples Democratic Party in Jammu and Kashmir and party sources claimed that now the government is likely to induct one leader from the party to shore up its numbers in Parliament.

PDP MP Mehbooba Mufti, daughter of J&K CM Mufti Mohammed, may get accommodated into Modi Cabinet.

Moreover, the Cabinet might witness reshuffle. Party insiders claimed that the prime minister might use the opportunity to send out a strong message to non-performing ministers. And those who have performed well might be rewarded. According to sources, MoS for finance Jayanth Sinha may be given additional charge of corporate affairs.

Union Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptulla, the senior-most member of Modi's council of ministers, who will turn 75 soon, is likely to be dropped from the Cabinet. It should also be noted that Modi had set up a cut-off age of 75 for ministers in his government. According to sources, Heptullah is likely to be made governor of a state.

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi might be given independent charge of minority affairs, claimed a party insider. At present, Naqvi is MoS for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs. Earlier, in his first expansion of the Cabinet in November, Modi had inducted 21 new faces. The Cabinet as of now has 26 Union ministers, 13 ministers of state (MoS) with independent charge and 26 other MoS, apart from the PM.

While Maharashtra ally Shiv Sena has been demanding more seats in the Cabinet, sources said that it is likely that Shiv Sena nominee Anil Desai, who was left out of the Cabinet reshuffle and expansion the last time, may be made given MoS with independent charge.