Reshuffle is likely after all ministers meet on January 27

In a significant development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called a meeting of the entire Union council of ministers on January 27, which is likely to be a precursor to the much-awaited expansion-cum-reshuffle of his team at a time when Assembly elections in four states and one Union territory are looming this year.

Informed sources indicated to this newspaper that while there will be no change in the four key ministries of home, defence, finance and external affairs, some ministries that are involved in policymaking and dealing with the energy sector may see changes in leadership during the reshuffle-cum expansion. This is likely to take place soon after the January 27 meeting and before the end of this month.

Sources said that with Assembly elections due in Assam, a state where the BJP is going all out to stake a serious claim to power, there is a possibility that its two-time MP Ramen Deka may get a look in as a new face in the Union Cabinet. Mr Deka, who represents Mangaldoi Lok Sabha seat from Assam, is a second-term MP and is also a member of the panel of Lok Sabha chairpersons. He has also been BJP state president in Assam in 2006.

The ministers who are likely to be replaced, sources said, may go back to the party fold and could be a part of the new team formed by Mr Amit Shah, who is likely to be elected for a full three-year term as BJP president.

Another likely addition to the Union council of ministers could be former Bihar deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi. Sources claimed he may be brought to Delhi via the Rajya Sabha. Though he was never openly projected as the BJP chief ministerial candidate during the Bihar polls, he has a good equation with both Mr Shah and the Prime Minister and may get him a look in, the sources added.

The council of ministers meeting on January 27 will be the second in a span of four weeks, as Mr Modi had held one on December 17, when he asked all ministers (including ministers of state) to travel across the country and spread awareness about the government’s development measures and also expose the Opposition’s tactics of disruption.

Sources said the forthcoming council of ministers meeting would also be a performance review by the PM of his colleagues. Some ministers who are likely to be sent back for party work are seen as too soft and ineffective and the Prime Minister, sources said, is apparently is not satisfied with their performance.

Other states where Assembly elections are due this year are West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, as well as the Union territory of Puducherry. While the BJP faces an uphill task in the southern states, in West Bengal it hopes to pitch itself as a replacement for the Left. Sources said, however, that while one its two MPs from the state, Babul Supriyo, is already a minister of state, the name of the Lok Sabha MP from Darjeeling, S.S. Ahluwalia, is not under consideration for induction into the council of ministers. As Mr Ahluwalia is chairman of the Joint Committee of

Parliament on the Land Acquisition Bill, it is felt that his presence is needed much more on that panel, sources said.