Nirmala Sitharaman, Dharmendra Pradhan likely to be dropped? Union Cabinet to be reshuffled next week

NEW DELHI: Reports say that a major reshuffle of the union cabinet could take place as early as next week. There are hints that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan may lose their present portfolios. It is also heard that Nirmala Sitharaman could be shifted to the Human Resources Development Ministry.

Home Minister Amit Shah had called on President Droupadi Murmu the other day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also met the President on June 23rd. Reports say that both these meetings may be linked to the anticipated cabinet reshuffle. Apart from this, busy political discussions are taking place in the national capital. However, the central government has not disclosed any indication about the reshuffle. Union Minister of State George Kurian, a Malayali, had resigned the other day after completing his term in the Rajya Sabha. However, no replacement has been made. This vacancy will be filled in the reshuffle.

It is believed that the upcoming assembly elections in major states including Uttar Pradesh are also behind the reshuffle. More ministers may be included from the states where elections are being held. Dharmendra Pradhan suffered setbacks due to the leak of question papers in the NEET exam and the failure to implement OSM in the CBSE Plus Two exam. The BJP believes that this has affected the image of the central government. The party fears that if he is allowed to continue, it will face a setback in the assembly elections. The ‘Cockroach Janta Pary’ have already intensified their agitation demanding his resignation. This is receiving a huge public support.

It is being heard that Shaktikanta Das, Prime Minister's Principal Secretary and former RBI Governor, is likely to replace Nirmala Sitharaman. He is a well-known economist. It is learnt that former union minister Anurag Thakur will also be given an important post in the cabinet reshuffle. Raghav Chadha, who recently joined the BJP from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Ashok Mittal may also be included in the cabinet. It is not clear whether any Malayalees will be accommodated in the cabinet.