Cabinet rejig likely by July 6

Prime Minister Narendra Modi appears set to reshuffle his Cabinet in the first week of July. The reshuffle is expected to take place before he travels abroad on July 6. The reshuffle could take place by July 4. The PM reportedly held discussions with BJP president Amit Shah and finance minister Arun Jaitley.

Major changes are unlikely but Uttar Pradesh may get more representation this time considering that Assembly elections are due in UP next year. Among the names doing the rounds from the politically significant state are Yogi Adityanath, Satyapal Singh and Sadhvi Savitri Bai Phoole. The Prime Minister could induct faces from other poll-bound states, including Punjab, Karnataka and Uttarakhand. The allowed strength of the Cabinet is 81.

Following Prime Minister Modi setting an age ceiling of 75 years for ministers, some of them might be dropped; these could include Najma Heptullah and Kalraj Mishra, who have already crossed the age bar.

The allowed strength of the Cabinet is 81. Currently, the Cabinet has a strength of 64, including the Prime Minister. Seventeen more ministers can be inducted without anyone being dropped.