Wednesday, 07 July 2021 | PNS/Deepak K Upreti | New Delhi
Ministry of Cooperation carved out ahead of first big reshuffle in Cabinet to boost co-op movement
The first major reshuffle in the Union Council of Ministers since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took up reins of the Government for the second-time on May 30, 2019, is expected to take place on Wednesday with several faces from the BJP and the allies of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) likely to be inducted in an exercise to refurbish Government’s post-Covid-19 image.
It is expected that BJP president JP Nadda would be meeting those expected to be inducted in the Cabinet at his residence on Wednesday. Those exiting the Cabinet may also be present at Nadda’s residence, according to sources. An exercise similar to this was held last time too at the residence of then party president Amit Shah.
Union Social Justice Ministry will have a new Minister with the incumbent Thawarchand Gehlot, 73, being appointed as Governor of Karnataka.
Jyotiraditya Scindia, who helped the party topple the Kamal Nath-led Congress Government in Madhya Pradesh in March last year, and former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who made way for the Hemanta Biswa Sarma, have reached Delhi in anticipation of joining the Modi Cabinet.
Scindia refused to comment on his entry to the Modi-Cabinet but sources confirmed that he along with others who has reached Delhi have received calls from the party to be present. BJP’s general secretary (organisation) is reportedly sounding the probables.
Similarly, BJP leader Narayan Rane, formerly of Shiv Sena, was asked to rush to the national Capital and has arrived.
The Government has decided to create a new Ministry of Cooperation with an aim to strengthen the cooperative movement in the country, official sources said on Tuesday.
This ministry will provide a separate administrative, legal and policy framework for strengthening the cooperative movement in the country, sources added.
The poll going States early next year, including Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Uttarakhand are to be in the focus in the reshuffle and names of NDA allies in UP – Aapna Dal (S) leader Annupriya Patel and Nishad Party’s Praveen Nishad from UP are doing rounds.
From Uttarakhand Trivendra Singh Rawat who was ousted by Tirath Singh Rawat in March, this year, as Chief Minister is also reported to be a candidate for berth in the Union Cabinet
Janata Dal (U) which wanted two of its leaders to be in the Cabinet last time sounds reconciled now. Asked about expectations of his party, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said let’s forget the past. “Now whatever the respected Prime Minister decides we will accept,” he said, adding that senior leader of JU (U) in Delhi is authorised to finalise everything with BJP.
The new leader of Lokjanshakti Party (LJP) Pashupati Paras, who recently staged a coup against his own nephew Chirag Paswan, son of late Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, may get entry to Modi’s Cabinet.
However, Chirag Paswan said he might go to court if any rebel Lok Janshakti Party MP including his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras was included in a Union Cabinet expansion.
“Making him (Paras) a Union Minister on LJP quota isn’t possible as the party’s National Executive had already expelled him along with four other MPs. We have informed the Election Commission of this,” Chirag said.
“I have also informed the Prime Minister of these issues today through a letter. I have no problem if he’s appointed Minister as an Independent MP or from the JDU. If he’s appointed minister as an MP of my party, I’ll go to court,” he added.
Sushil Kumar Modi, former Deputy-CM of Bihar and now a Rajya Sabha member may also possibly make it to the Cabinet from the BJP.
West Bengal where BJP has credible performance winning 70 odd seats in the Assembly elections may see representation in the Union Cabinet and many names are doing around including that of the party MP Locket Chatterjee.
BJP’s Vice-President Jay Panda who joined BJP quitting Janata Dal (Biju) was also in-charge of Assam where party won for the second time can find seat in the council of ministers, sources suggest.
In the light of ongoing Covid-19 and Opposition criticism speculation is rife whether Modi could affect a change in the Ministry of health and brining a new face. This, many observe, may be acceptance of a lax handling of the pandemic by the Government. On account of the exit of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Shiv Sena vacancies have added up to 28 and with the expectations that many existing ministers may be dropped.
There are Ministers like Hardeep Puri, Prakash Javadekar and Piyush Goyàl who are holding as many as three to four ministries which may be allocated to the aspirants from the BJP and NDA allies.
Presently there are 53 Ministers in the Union Cabinet and the total strength may go up to 81- 15 per cent of the Lok Sabha strength. The Prime Minister is expected to induct at least 12 to 18 new Ministers in the reshuffle that will be first in the last two-year of governance in his second inning at the Centre.
For last one month Modi has been meeting Union Ministers in groups with BJP president JP Nadda also in attendance in an exercise to review their work and get feedback.
On Monday, Modi held prolonged meetings with Shah and Santhosh to review the names of potential Ministers.
