New Delhi: Will Soyam Babu Rao, MP from Adilabad in Telangana, be inducted in the Cabinet by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the reshuffle this evening at 6 pm? One Telugu daily has prominently said today that his name is among the new comers in the Centre. Jyotiraditya Scindia, whose defection from Congress saw the Congress government in MP fall, Sarbananda Sonowal, who sacrificed the post of Assam CM, Narayan Rane, Maharashtra strong man, Varun Gandhi, Sanjay Gandi-Maneka Gandhi’s son, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader and brother of departed leader Ram Vilas Paswan, Pashupati Paras are in Delhi to take the oath.
The new cabinet will be the youngest ever in the country’s history, according to reliable sources. More ministers will be from OBCs and the States that are going to polls early next year. The 2024 general elections also are kept in mind. There will be more women ministers and special representation would be given for those who have vast experience in administration. There may be some present ministers among those who would be dropped. The government sources said the new cabinet would include highly educated persons who are PhDs and MBAs.
Andhra Pradesh was given a consideration on Monday when the President had nominated former BJP MP Hari Babu of Visakhapatnam as Governor of Mizoram. The fact that no other person from AP is being considered for a Cabinet berth indicates that the BJP is not very keen on AP even in 2024 elections and would like to have cordial relationship with Chief Minister and YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy who is expected win one more term. The fact that Bandaru Dattatreya was moved from Himachal Pradesh to Haryana and Kishan Reddy continues to be minister of State for home affairs besides considering Soyam Babu Rao’s name indicates that the BJP would like to offer a serious fight in Telangana in 2023. Born in 1969, Babu Rao, 52, was a teacher before coming into politics. He was elected to AP Assembly in 2009. The BJP has been gearing up and giving representation to a Tribal like Babu Rao would boost its relationship with Adivasis. The BJP has been assiduously getting closer to Tribals and Dalits.
Pawan Kalyan was expected to be taken into Cabinet by getting his into Rajya Sabha. But it is not likely to happen now. If Pawan drifts away from the BJP and join forces with Chandrababu Naidu, then the TDP-Jana Sena combine would be able to give a fight to YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in AP. Right now, however, Pawar Kalyan is busy with his films.
A new ministry called ‘Ministry of Cooperation’ has been created on Monday with a view to giving a thrust to the cooperative sector. As a preparation for the cabinet reshuffle, Union minister for social justice Thawarchand Gehlot has been elevated as Governor of Karnataka, an important State in the South ruled by the BJP. Dinesh Trivedi and Jiten Prasada who switched over from Trinamool Congress and the Congress in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh respectively have to be accommodated. Gehlot’s Rajya Sabha seat falls vacan and it may go to Jitin Prasada as UP is going to polls and Brahmin community has to be placated there. Anupriya Patel of Apna Dal in UP is also among those who received phone call from Home Minister Amit Shah. The Union Cabinet which is entitled to have 81 ministers has 52 ministers now. There is scope for 29 more.
Nitish Kumar, Bihar chief minister and chief of JD (U) has been persisting in his demand that his party should get four Cabinet berths if one goes by the number of MPs that his party has. However, he said on Monday evening that his party would join the Cabinet and accept whatever is offered. But he is expecting proportional representation.
