JD-U ministers set to join Team Modi

New Delhi: The much-awaited reshuffle-cum-expansion of the Narendra Modi government could see the induction of at least one Cabinet minister and two ministers of state from the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U).

The JD(U) had cut ties with the BJP before the last Lok Sabha elections, but joined hands with it again last month to run the Bihar government. The Nitish Kumar-led party is likely to officially announce its alliance with the NDA at the national level soon. The expansion-reshuffle of the Modi government could take place by next month.

Speculation is rife that the AIADMK, Tamil Nadu’s ruling party, whose leaders from both factions are holding back-channel talks with the BJP, could also see two-three leaders in Mr Modi’s team. Political circles in Maharashtra are abuzz that the NCP too could join the NDA soon, amid a growing rift between the BJP and Shiv Sena.

While some ministers like Arun Jaitley, Harsh Vardhan and Smriti Irani hold additional portfolios that they could be relieved of, there is also speculation that some ministers could be asked to go back to organisational work ahead of the 2019 general elections. Mr Modi could induct new faces from the South, specially after the BJP’s tallest leader from the South, M. Venkaiah Naidu, was elected as V-P.

On Monday, meanwhile, the Prime Minister will hold a review meeting with the chief ministers of BJP-ruled states and the party’s deputy chief ministers in NDA-ruled states, where BJP president Amit Shah will be present.