PM Modi’s cabinet reshuffle – the third in as many years – has been due for months now, especially in the scenario of vacancies and shifting alliances.

Edited by Shuchi Shukla

Here are 10 updates on cabinet reshuffle:
-Sources have said that Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti, who refused to comment on reports of her resignation on Friday, is unlikely to be dropped from cabinet, may get a new assignment.

-Minister Suresh Prabhu, who after a series of accidents, reportedly offered to quit, may get another assignment, say sources and Prakash Javadekar, Education Minister, could get the rail ministry.

-Sources say BJP Rajya Sabha member from Maharashtra Vinay Sahasrabuddhe may get Human Resources ministry and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad too could get a new ministry.

-A new Defence Minister is also on cards, say sources. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley took an additional job as Defence Minister after Manohar Parrikar was shifted to Goa as Chief Minister, he currently handles both key departments.
-Transport
Nitin Gadkari whose name was doing rounds for the job of Railway Minister will stay put, say sources, as PM Modi is said to “very happy” with his performance.

-The cabinet reshaping – the third in as many years – has been due for months now, especially in the scenario of vacancies and shifting alliances. At least two members from the BJP’s new partner, the Janata Dal United of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar – Ram Chandra Prasad Singh and Santosh Kushwaha are tipped to be ministers.

-Evictions from the cabinet are based only on performance after a review, the sources said, with PM Modi clear he wants ministers who perform and work hard.

-Kalraj Mishra, who will not be part of the PM’s new cabinet, today clarified that he has quit because of age not performance. “The PM has lauded my work at the ministry and appreciated the fact that I offered to step down. Future role will be determined by party,” he said. Mr Mishra, 75, is well over the BJP’s age limit for ministers.

-Sadananda Gowda, who was demoted from Law to Statistics and Programme Implementation in the last reshuffle, and who has not been among the best performers, is unlikely to lose his place in the cabinet because of elections in his state Karnataka next year. Two more BJP leaders from Karnataka could become ministers as the BJP tries to wrest the state back from the Congress.

-Bhupendra Yadav, who is the BJP’s man in-charge of Gujarat, is among those likely to be made a minister. The assembly elections are due in the state by the end of the year. BJP chief Amit Shah has set a massive target of winning 150 seats of the 182 seats in Gujarat and an A-list central team led by Mr Jaitley will shape election strategy.