Union Cabinet reshuffle likely next week; PM Modi to review NDA ministers' report card today

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to review the performance of his council of ministers on Thursday, ahead of revamping the Union Cabinet, which is most likely to be held in the first week of July.

According to reports, before reviewing the report card of his ministers, Pm Modi is likely to have a detailed discussion with them on a wide range of issues, including changing the portfolios of some non-performing ministers.

During the meeting, the NDA government ministers are expected to make presentations on work done by them in the two years since the BJP-led government came to power.

Speculation over the possible changes intensified last night as PM Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah met for more than five hours. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who was also expected to attend that meeting, was absent.
 
Portfolios of senior ministers may change, say sources, and new ministers could be added in the revamp, which could be announced before July 6, when the Prime Minister leaves for Africa.

The changes will coincide with an organisational shake-up in the BJP. Amit Shah is also likely to reconstitute his team in the first week of July, the BJP sources said.

In the government, Ministers of State Piyush Goyal and Dharmendra Pradhan may be promoted to cabinet rank.

Besides, few vacancies will be filled and some junior ministers from poll-bound states like Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh will be appointed as ministers.

Besides, few vacancies will filled and some junior ministers from poll-bound states like Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh will most likely be appointed as ministers.

As per sources, after Sarabananda Sonowal's elevation as Assam Chief Minister, the post of Sports Minister is currently vacant, while Raosaheb Patil Danve had resigned after he was appointed president of the BJP in Maharashtra.

Union Law Minister Sadananda Gowda's performance is believed to be below par and he may be replaced by a powerful minister from Karnataka.

The cabinet cannot exceed 82 ministers; currently, it has 70 members including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A dozen cabinet ministers are from Uttar Pradesh, which votes next year.