A reshuffle of the Union Cabinet looks imminent as Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu to hold on for “sometime” on his offer to quit.
Modi discussed the exercise with BJP chief Amit Shah and Finance and Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, BJP officials said.
Prabhu offered to quit, taking “moral responsibility” for the accidents in developments that saw the government appoint Air India chairman Ashwani Lohani as new Railway Board chairman in place of A K Mittal.
“Accountability is a good system in the government...the prime minister will take a decision on whatever request the railway minister has made,” Jaitley told reporters at a press conference held to convey decisions of the Union Cabinet on Wednesday.
Aides said a reshuffle could take place as early as the end of this week or around September 3. BJP circles are abuzz with talk that it could be a large exercise to carry out a revamp instead of just reallocation of portfolios to adjust vacancies.
Modi is expected to use the opportunity to bring young faces to re-energise his council of ministers before the next parliamentary polls due in 2019.
Since he became the prime minister, Modi has carried out only two Cabinet reshuffles and expansions — in November 2014 and July 2016.
BJP officials said the “performance criteria” would be the benchmark.
Besides, other factors include adequate representation for social groups in the states that go to polls in the next 15 months.
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