Cabinet reshuffle anticipated, invitations on hold

As a major overhaul of the Modi Cabinet has been doing the rounds for the last fortnight, an interesting observation has come to light. Except for the Government functions, the incumbent Council of Ministers are putting on hold the invitations to be the Chief Guest, Guest of Honour, etc., when approached by individuals, establishments, organisations, institutions, based on presumptions whether they continue to be the Minister or could be reallocated to a different Ministry. Grapevine has it that several new faces could be inducted, with an overall 60 per cent of the ministers likely to be replaced.

Reports also suggest a few ministers could be dropped, reassigned, or given additional responsibilities. As a reshuffle of Governors is also awaited, all these high offices have slowed down on taking decisions and commitments related to governance.
 

8th Pay Commission. When?

From Friday onwards, the top to bottom of bureaucracy is abuzz with the news on the forthcoming implementation of the Eighth Pay Commission. There were reports flashed in Social Media Groups that the Justice Ranjana Desai Commission has finished the preparation of the long-overdue Pay Commission Report. Most believe that by next month or before Diwali, the Report will be submitted to the Government. The question is when the Government will approve it, resulting in salary hikes. Many veteran officers say the implementation announcement will take more than a year. Some say the Government prefers to announce in mid 2028, a few months away from the Lok Sabha election, to keep Bureaucracy and retired persons in the vote bank.

 

Tharoor annoys Congress again for talking Modi

Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor has once again got into trouble for praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Just before the assembly elections in Kerala, the strained relationship between Tharoor and Congress was settled, and both sides maintained each other’s sanctity until the former Union Minister once again talked ‘Modi’ for his stand on US diplomatic developments during the West Asia crisis. Congress officially attacked Tharoor on Saturday for giving statements on the good strategy presented by PM Modi. Grapevine has it that Tharoor flak from his party began a day after he attended and delivered a speech at an event backed by the Adani Group, which is always forbidden by the party’s first family, the Gandhis.