Modi Government Readying Up First Cabinet Reshuffle In Second Term, Suresh Prabhu May Be Back As Minister Claim Sources

After coming back to power with a thumping majority this May, the Modi government is all set to go for it's first Cabinet reshuffle very soon.

Sources say, the reshuffle can take place as early as in the next 15 days.

Informed sources told IANS that a major inclusion in the new Cabinet can be Suresh Prabhu, who is likely to make a comeback, after he was dropped from the Cabinet when Modi took oath on 30 May, this year. The former Shiv Sainik is tipped to head the Commerce and Industry Ministry. Right now, the portfolio is being handled by Piyush Goyal.

Prabhu earlier in Modi 1.0 had handled Commerce and Industry portfolio. He is also India's 'Sherpa' at the G-20.

Prabhu is a chartered accountant-turned-politician who was poached from the Shiv Sena when the BJP's ally refused to send him to the Cabinet from its share, during PM Modi's first tenure.

PM Modi is expected to bring in more technocrats and people with a core expertise for ministries that are crucial for the economic turnaround of the country. PM Modi’s earlier choice of S Jaishankar for his domain expertise in international diplomacy helped India sail through after abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution that gave a special status to Kashmir.

Right now there are 58 ministers in the union council of ministers and just 24 out of them are of Cabinet rank. Many ministers who are shuttling between many portfolios will be divested of some of their responsibilities, say sources.

Chances are, some of them may be relieved of the additional burden, given the important role they play also for the organisation.

It's the first-ever Cabinet reshuffle after the Modi government swept back to power with 303 seats. With the box of Article 370 ticked, the goal of this reshuffle will be an economic turnaround.

(With inputs from IANS)