Reshuffling of Modi’s cabinet may cost U.P ministers heavily 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is planning to reshuffle his cabinet post 15 August. It is believed that no less than two ministers from UP are probably going to be removed/replaced after the reshuffle.There are 14 ministers in Union cabinet from UP, including Modi, who is an MP from Varanasi.

Induction of leaders in Amit Shah’s team:

• Highly placed sources told  that more than the ministers performance, it is the compulsion
• to adjust leaders from the states going to the polls later this year that would cost their jobs.
• The reshuffle would simultaneously see induction of leaders in BJP national president Amit Shah’s team from various state units.
• As per sources some leaders from UP would get place in Shah’s team in view of the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
• Consequently, this would also set the tone for selection of the UP BJP chief.
• Post president and vice-president elections, the party now wants to take these key decisions after the end of parliament session on August 11.
• former defence minister Manohar Parrikar has taken over as the Goa chief minister.

Reshuffling of a few ministers:

• Finance minister Arun Jaitley is looking after defence.
• Similarly, housing and urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu has been elected as the vice-president.
• Earlier he was also looking after the information and broadcasting portfolio.
• Furthermore, Ramshanker Katheria -MP from Agra -was removed from the Modi cabinet
• and was replaced by another dalit leader from UP Krishna Raj.
• A decision after August 15 will give the party leadership enough opportunity to discuss
• the prospective candidates for the state BJP chief ‘s post.
• Similarly, chances are that leaders might also discuss the names to be included in Shah’s team.
• As per sources, it is improbable that any senior minister from UP would be dropped as the
• leadership won’t disturb the combination for in these two years prior next elections.
• “It is likely that at least one minister from west UP and one from east UP will exit Modi cabinet.
• They could be adjusted either in Shah’s team or in the UP organisation,“ says a party source.