Modi, Shah review ministers’ performance ahead of reshuffle

The two leaders held a three-hour-long meeting at the Prime Minister’s 7 Race Course Road on Wednesday evening in this context. The performance report of all the ministers was discussed at this meeting.

 Sources said, the Prime Minister is likely to chair a meeting of the full council of ministers on Thursday. The government has also sought President Pranab Mukherjee’s availability for the possible expansion.

Keeping an eye on upcoming polls in the states, Apna Dal MP from Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh, Anupriya Patel, who represents the backward Kurmi community might get a ministerial berth. BJP general Secretary Om Mathur can be brought in as a Minister, as can Bikaner MP Arjun Ram Megwal, sources said. 

On the other hand, some sitting ministers like Nihal Chand, Giriraj Singh and Najma Heptulla may face the axe. Some like Prakash Javedkar and JP Nadda could be co-opted for organizational work. According to sources, Union Minister of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Harsh Vardhan could get back the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare if Nadda goes back to the party.

With an eye on  Punjab, the vacancy created in the Ministry of Youth affairs and Sports following the exit of Sarbananda Sonowal, could be filled by the newly nominated Rajya Sabha MP Navjot Singh Sidhu. It can be also the opportunity to mend fences between Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Sidhu, who was made to vacate his Amritsar Lok Sabha seat for Jaitley during the General Election in 2014. 

After reviewing of the performances, its more or less decided that the big four – Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, would not be touched.