A few changes in the all-powerful PMO would have been far weightier than the cabinet reshuffle exercise. Only a few among the common people are really bothered about which portfolio is reallotted to whom. With nothing much to showcase as a significant recast, the appointment of a political lightweight as the new Defence Minister is now being trumpeted as “women’s empowerment”. With ‘governance’ reduced to one-man show, even the induction of the new faces hardly helps in achieving an image makeover for the government. It was an out-and-out BJP revamp with no representation even to parties which have recently aligned themselves with the BJP. It would be misplaced optimism if we tend to believe that the reshuffled cabinet despite being “reinforced with 4 Ps” would take us on the path to ‘acche din’.
G. David Milton,
Maruthancode, Kanyakumari
Reshuffling cabinets have turned out to be monotonous exercises thanks to the omnipresent caste factor, State representations and, of course, coalition compulsions. All parties have mastered the art of packing elders off to take up gubernatorial posts and appointing lightweights to party positions. One had thought Mr. Modi would have veered off the beaten path, but he has only disappointed us. Perhaps the dearth of talent among BJP MPs is one of the several reasons for his inability to pick and choose the best ones.
Ganapathi Bhat
Akola, Maharashtra
