New Delhi: A cloud of uncertainty looms over the AIADMK and JD (U) participation in the Union Cabinet as Prime Minister Narendra Modi restructures on Sunday.
Internal problems in the Tamil Nadu party, which has been hit by a rebellion led by TTV Dhinakaran, may prove to be an obstacle in their union with the government as it works to appease the crisis.
JD (U) sources said they were not yet informed of their involvement in the government.
“Our deputies are in Delhi, there was never any problem in the party for participating in the government, but there has been no communication with us even though the reorganization is tomorrow,” said a leader of JD (U).
The BJP sources, however, downplayed confusion over whether or not the two sides will join the government, saying things are going to fall before the event.
More than half a dozen ministers are expected to open up several new faces in the remodeling, being seen as a balance between Modi’s push on merit and the demands of realpolitik.
“A process for the swearing-in ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan has been set up around 10am on Sunday,” a senior government official said Friday.
The ministers of the Union – Kalraj Mishra, Bandaru Dattatreya, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Sanjiv Kumar Balyan, Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahendra Nath Pandey – had resigned on Friday before the rejig.
Uma Bharti had also offered to resign, but her fate remains in balance amid speculation that there may be some more outlets.
Bharti, who is the Minister of Water Resources, said that only Shah or anyone on his behalf can speak on the subject.
Amit Shah met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday and it is assumed that the two leaders have finalized the changes in the council of
ministers
Arun Jaitley, who currently holds two heavyweight portfolios – financing and defense – can hold only one, sources said.
Minister of Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, considered one of the most capable ministers, may have more responsibility.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, who had assumed moral responsibility for a series of railroad accidents and expressed his readiness to resign, could move to another ministry, the sources said.
Other incumbents, including the minister of steel, Birender Singh, can move to other ministries.
BJP General Secretary Bhupender Yadav, Party Vice-President Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Prahlad Patel, Suresh Angadi, Satyapal Singh, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Anurag Thakur, Shobha Karandlaje, Maheish Girri and Prahlad Joshi are speaking within the party as among the ministers probable
Energy Minister Piyush Goyal, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Telecommunications Minister Manoj Sinha are among the “good guys” in the government, a party leader said, adding that some of them may be high.
With Nitish Kumar’s JD (U) is also likely to join the government, its leaders RCP Singh, who is its parliamentary party leader in the Rajya Sabha, and Santosh Kumar are likely picks of the new constituent NDA.
AIADMK leader Thambidurai met with Shah on Friday, and he, along with party leaders P Venugopal and V Maitreyan, may be the likely representatives of the Tamil Nadu party if he decides to join the government. However, the southern party has not confirmed so far.
There is also talk of a greater representation of existing allies such as the TDP and Shiv Sena.
The current strength of the council of ministers, including the prime minister, is 73 and the maximum number of ministers can not go beyond 81.
According to a constitutional amendment, the limit can not exceed more than 15 percent of the total strength of the Lok Sabha which is 545.
While there are some vacancies, a number of senior ministers also have dual portfolios.
In addition to Jaitley, Harsh Vardhan, Smriti Irani and Narendra Singh Tomar are handling additional charges.
After taking office in May 2014, Modi expanded his council of ministers twice – first on November 9, 2014 and then on July 5, 2016.
