Some new faces are likely to be inducted into the Union Cabinet when Prime Minister Narendra Modi expands his Council of Ministers on Sunday. A reshuffle of portfolios is also expected.
Minister of State Prakash Javadekar, who holds charge of the Ministries of Environment and Forests and Information and Broadcasting, could be promoted as a Cabinet Minister, but is likely to shed one portfolio.
Minister of State for Commerce, Industry and Finance Nirmala Sitharaman, who gave a good account of herself at the WTO negotiations, too may be elevated. In her place, senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha’s son, Jayant Sinha, may be made Minister of State for Finance.
BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas is likely to be given the charge of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, dropping Najma Heptulla.
Maharashtra MP Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, who is credited with uncovering the coal block scam, is likely to be inducted.
Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, who is from Bihar, is on shaky wicket, but he may not be disturbed in this reshuffle as elections in the State are round the corner and Mr. Modi does not want to send a wrong signal, party sources said.
Representation for JatsBirendra Singh, a Jat leader from Haryana who joined the BJP just before the State elections, may be accommodated in the Cabinet, giving representation to Jats before the Delhi Assembly election.
There is speculation that Tourism Minister Shripad Naik may replace Manohar Parrikar as Goa Chief Minister. Goa Speaker Rajendra Arlekar is also in the race for the post.
