Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to preside over a meeting of the Union Council of Ministers on Monday, leading to heightened speculation about a possible Cabinet reshuffle before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and organizational changes within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Recent meetings among top BJP leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah and party president J P Nadda, have fueled rumors of an imminent Cabinet reshuffle. These closed-door discussions, involving the BJP’s brain trust, have further strengthened the belief that changes are on the horizon.
The political upheaval in Maharashtra on Sunday, where Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar joined the BJP-Shiv Sena government along with several legislators from his party, has added to the speculation. The defection of senior NCP MP and former Union Minister Praful Patel, who aligned himself with his nephew and Ajit Pawar, has raised the possibility of him being a potential contender for a ministerial position in the central government.
Another focal point of speculation is the inclusion of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, a prominent BJP leader in the state, in the central government. With Ajit Pawar taking oath as the deputy chief minister in Maharashtra, rumors abound regarding Fadnavis’s potential move to the central government.
According to BJP sources, allies are likely to be given representation in the Cabinet when Modi decides to undertake a reshuffle. The upcoming assembly elections in certain states will also be taken into consideration during any Cabinet rejig.
The proximity of the reshuffle rumors to the Monsoon Session of Parliament, scheduled to commence on July 20, has added to the speculation that the reshuffle may occur before the session begins.
In addition to a possible Cabinet reshuffle, the BJP’s organizational structure, including certain state units, may witness changes as the party’s top leadership selects individuals for key positions. The intensifying campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections has prompted the BJP to make strategic choices.
Prime Minister Modi previously held a meeting with Shah and Nadda on June 28. This meeting followed closed-door discussions among Shah, Nadda, and others to assess organizational and political matters.
The BJP has been actively preparing for several state elections scheduled for this year, with the Congress Party demonstrating resilience following its significant victory in Karnataka. Elections are due in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Mizoram later this year, and the Congress Party is expected to be the BJP’s primary challenger in the first three states.
