Friday, Mar 29, 2024 | Last Update : 03:27 AM IST

  India   Modi may conduct performance review of Cabinet today ahead of rejig

Modi may conduct performance review of Cabinet today ahead of rejig

AGE CORRESPONDENT
Published : Jun 30, 2016, 11:01 am IST
Updated : Jun 30, 2016, 11:01 am IST

Several important ministries may see new faces, while UP may get more representation with an eye on polls.

The reshuffle is likely to be announced before July 6, the day Modi leaves for Africa. (Photo: File)
 The reshuffle is likely to be announced before July 6, the day Modi leaves for Africa. (Photo: File)

Several important ministries may see new faces, while UP may get more representation with an eye on polls.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to meet his ministers on Thursday, in what is being called a performance review before a Cabinet reshuffle scheduled to take place next month.

The reshuffle is likely to be announced before July 6, the day Modi leaves for Africa.

According to reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked his Cabinet colleagues to present their self-appraisal reports for the two years of the BJP government. All ministers have now been asked to make presentations on work done.

Read: Modi government to go in for Cabinet reshuffle in July

In the reshuffle, Minister of State for Power and Coal Piyush Goyal could be given charge of the Finance portfolio, while Arun Jaitley may be moved to the Defence Ministry.

On the other hand, Manohar Parrikar, who is the Defence Minister at present, could be sent back to Goa in view of the upcoming elections in 2017.

Several performing ministers like Nirmala Sitharaman, Kiren Rijiju and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore may be elevated and given Cabinet rank.

The Sports Ministry has fallen to MoS in Prime Minister’s Office, Jitendra Singh, after Sarbananda Sonowal assumed charge as the Assam Chief Minister. The vacancy in this ministry may also be filled.

Among new names doing the rounds are Yogi Adityanath, Satyapal Singh and Sadhvi Savitri Bai Phoole. The Prime Minister could also induct faces from other poll-bound states of Punjab, Karnataka and Uttarakhand.

Some ministers may swap departments, and Law Minister Sadananda Gowda, whose performance is said to be below average, might get a powerful minister of state to assist him.

12 ministers in the present Cabinet hail from Uttar Pradesh. This number could be increased in view of the upcoming elections in the state.

The government may also ease out ministers who are over 75 years old. The Union Cabinet comprises of 66 ministers at present, including PM Modi. It can have a maximum of 83 ministers.

PM Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah met for more than five hours on Wednesday night. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was also supposed to attend the meeting, but did not.

(This story originally appeared in the deccan Chronicle as may the case be)

Location: India, Delhi, New Delhi