<p>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.<br /><br />Modi discussed the exercise with BJP chief Amit Shah and Finance and Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, BJP officials said.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />“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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Since he became the prime minister, Modi has carried out only two Cabinet reshuffles and expansions — in November 2014 and July 2016.<br /><br />BJP officials said the “performance criteria” would be the benchmark.<br /><br />Besides, other factors include adequate representation for social groups in the states that go to polls in the next 15 months.</p>
<p>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.<br /><br />Modi discussed the exercise with BJP chief Amit Shah and Finance and Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, BJP officials said.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />“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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Since he became the prime minister, Modi has carried out only two Cabinet reshuffles and expansions — in November 2014 and July 2016.<br /><br />BJP officials said the “performance criteria” would be the benchmark.<br /><br />Besides, other factors include adequate representation for social groups in the states that go to polls in the next 15 months.</p>
