Shah, Nabin discuss BJP reset ahead of Cabinet reshuffle
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President Nitin Nabin, accompanied by the party’s General Secretary (Organisation) BL Santosh, on Thursday held a crucial meeting to finalise a major organisational revamp of the BJP and to discuss on the imminent reshuffle in the Union Cabinet, which could be scheduled during the next couple of days.
Shah has cancelled his proposed trip to Odisha to streamline the party organisation ahead of the reshuffle. He was scheduled to reach Odisha on July 3 for a two-day tour.
According to sources, the ministerial reshuffle is expected to be undertaken alongside the announcement of the party’s new organisational team, under party president Nitin Nabin, which is also long overdue. Nabin also held consultations with a few Union ministers last week, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
There are strong possibilities of some Union ministers being shifted to organisational roles in the BJP and party office-bearers being inducted into the Government.
Sources said the Shah and Nabin discussions focused on forming the new central team, adjusting national office-bearers, and reallocating regional responsibilities ahead of upcoming State Assembly elections.
Party sources indicated the restructuring will involve bringing in younger faces and reassigning certain Union ministers to key State organisational roles. Political insiders suggest the Government is actively assessing the Council of Ministers, with structural changes and potential ministerial exits aligned to enhance administrative efficiency and strengthen voter outreach.
The terms of three governors — Thawar Chand Gehlot (Karnataka), Mangubhai Patel (Madhya Pradesh) and Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Uttarakhand) — are also ending in the coming months. According to the sources, some ministers who may be dropped from the Union Cabinet could be accommodated as Governors.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to travel to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand between July 6 and 11 and hence July 5 is the most speculated day for the reshuffle.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is travelling abroad, will be back on the same day. Sources in the BJP said there is a growing view within the Government’s top brass that key ministries require fresh blood.
Party sources further said more representatives from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab are likely to be inducted into the ministry, with Assembly elections due in these states next year.
Following the BJP’s landslide victory in West Bengal, some of the party’s MPs from the State could also be accommodated in the Union Council of Ministers. According to the sources, representatives from the rebel AAP, TMC and Shinde-led Shiv Sena group are also likely to figure in the Union Council of Ministers.
