<div><strong>Suchetana Ray & Suman K Jha</strong></div><div> </div><div>The buzz about a reshuffle of Narendra Modi’s cabinet has been doing the rounds for months now. Many believed that the right time was after the Budget Session of Parliament, but many months have passed since then and the latest whisper is that the changes in the Cabinet will be introduced after the Bihar elections.</div><div> </div><div>Of the many Cabinet ministers whose portfolios are expected to change, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s name is right on top. Top sources in the know say that it’s unlikely that any changes will be brought upon the crucial ministry of finance just 5 months before the annual exercise of presenting the Union Budget. So the reshuffle could see Jaitley’s other portfolios - Information & Broadcasting and Corporate Affairs - being rejigged. “He is overburdened with so many ministries, but his proficiency in all matters legal also make him a great asset to the Government,” explain sources. These sources also point to the regular meetings that the Finance Minister is having with the Additional Solicitor Generals of India. A trained lawyer, Jaitley is proficient and well-versed with all the cases pending in various courts that could have a bearing on the government.</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://www.businessworld.in/economy-india/modi-cabinet-party-set-shake-after-bihar-polls"><strong>As already reported by Businessworld.in</strong></a>, Union health Minister J P Nadda could be headed to the party, for leadership position, should the BJP alliance win Bihar.</div><div> </div><div>This will be no commentary on incumbent BJP President Amit Shah, though. The RSS, in fact, wants someone at the helm who will be amenable to do its bidding. Shah is an out and out Modi protégé.</div><div> </div><div>In the reshuffle, Union Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptullah is expected to be eased out, as she has hit the cut-off age of 75. Union MSME Minister Kalraj Mishra may be nearing the cut-off mark, but he is likely to be retained till the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 2017.</div><div> </div><div>Among the Union Ministers, Dharmendra Pradhan and Ananthkumar could be sent back to the party, say sources.</div><div> </div><div>Among the junior ministers, the stock of Jayant Sinha (MoS Finance), Kiren Rijiju (MoS Home) and Manoj Sinha (MoS Railways) is said to be high.</div><div> </div><div>As has already been reported, Union Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu may be on his way out, as the Prime Minister’s Office has in recent times expressed its displeasure at the slow process of reform in India’s largest PSU: the Indian Railways. A top official in Rail Ministry points out, “The minister is acutely aware of the challenges in this ministry but he also knows that there are no quick fixes. These are problems that have accumulated over decades and Suresh Prabhu has inherited them.” But sections in the Government say that the urgency shown by Prabhu to sign MoUs with various sectors and stakeholders has done little to improve the condition on Indian Railways. Critics point out that Prabhu’s stated promise of raising Rs 8.5 lakh crore in investments over the next 5 years is yet to take off. And add to that the spate of recent accidents.</div><div> </div><div>Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani never ceases to surprise. She will surprise her critics again by retaining her job, say sources.</div><div> </div>
