Cabinet reshuffle? Modi to chair Council of Ministers' meet today
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reportedly chair a meeting of his Council of Ministers on Monday amid several rumors of a possible Cabinet reshuffle. As per reports, the meeting will be held at the newly built convention center at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, which will also host the much-anticipated G20 Summit later this year in September.
Why does this story matter?
With the 2024 Lok Sabha elections just around the corner, political tensions are rising within the BJP. Last month, 16 opposition parties met in Patna and pledged to fight the saffron brigade in next year's general polls to unseat the Modi government. After facing a landslide defeat in Karnataka, the BJP is eyeing Assembly poll victories in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, and Telangana.
Sources predict possible time for Cabinet reshuffle
According to sources within the BJP, the alliance partners would get a berth in the Cabinet whenever Modi decides to move ahead with the reshuffle of the Council of Ministers. As per India TV, the time before the commencement of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, which is scheduled to start later this month, could be the last period for the rumored reshuffle.
Political shift in Maharashtra
In a major political shift in Maharashtra, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar and eight other MLAs switched boats and took oath as ministers in the BJP-backed National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government on Sunday. Senior NCP MP Praful Patel, who also followed Pawar, is viewed as a possible contender among the likely new ministers in the central government.
NCP disqualification petitions against Pawar, other MLAs
Meanwhile, state NCP President Jayant Patil confirmed that the party had filed a disqualification petition with Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar against Pawar and the other eight MLAs. "Following the recommendation of the disciplinary committee, the NCP has moved disqualification petitions against the nine MLAs with the state legislature through a mail," he said during a press conference on Sunday.
BJP's high-level meeting at Modi's residence
Last week, PM Modi reportedly chaired a meeting with the party's National President, J P Nadda, and Shah on Wednesday to take stock of the organizational and political affairs ahead of the upcoming general elections in 2024. It should also be noted that if a cabinet reshuffle happens, it will play a significant role in the upcoming state elections.
Alleged security scare at PM Modi's Delhi residence
In a separate incident, a drone was reportedly spotted flying over the prime minister's official residence in the national capital on Monday morning. The Special Protection Group (SPG), responsible for providing proximate security to the PM, got in touch with the Delhi Police at approximately 5:30am, and a probe was launched into the matter.
