Cabinet Reshuffle Likely To Be Delayed, FM Change Unlikely

The much-anticipated Union Cabinet reshuffle may simply get put off. Initially, there was excitement when George Kurian quit as Union Minister for Minority Affairs. It was presumed that he had set the ball rolling. With Modi government keen to push some important laws in the upcoming Monsoon Session of  the Parliament and increasing  its numbers in the House, there was a sense that a number of new ministers would soon join the government. For some reason, neither PM Modi nor Home Minister Amit Shah are in a mood to rush through this exercise and repent later.  With a series of international engagements for PM Modi beginning with a Seychelles visit at the end of June and a packed diplomatic schedule in early July, it now seems Modi is unlikely to reshuffle his team. Modi is expected to undertake visits to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand between July 6 and 11. In addition, Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi is scheduled to visit New Delhi from July 1 to 3. In view of these international engagements, BJP leaders say the likelihood of a Cabinet reshuffle before July 11 appears remote, although they remain confident that the exercise will be completed ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament that is expected to begin third week of July. BJP sources also discount the possibility of any major change in the Finance Ministry like easing out FM Nirmala Sitharaman or getting former RBI Governor Dr Shaktikanta Das to head the ministry. Sources say significant portfolio reshuffles in the Union government are most likely when elections are held for the office of President of India in 2027.