PM Modi likely to expand, rejig Union cabinet this week

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to expand as well as rejig his cabinet in the ongoing week, apparently to accommodate new entrants in National Democratic Alliance (NDA) – JD-U and AIADMK, and remove the non-performing ministers, said the sources on Monday.

Significantly, Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal-United recently formed government in Bihar with support of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The sources said that the new cabinet expansion might see induction of two ministers each from AIADMK and JD-U.

The Union cabinet expansion might also see some new faces from Uttar Pradesh, while there are talks about removal of some ministers, who have disappointed the PM with their poor performance.

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It is worth mentioning that three major posts in the Union cabinet had become vacant following Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu's election as Vice President, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar taking over as the Chief Minister of Goa and the death of Anil Madhav Dave.

Currently, these portfolios have been given as additional charge to other ministers of the Union cabinet.

It is also being said that BJP chief Amit Shah cancelled his Tamil Nadu visit to holds discussions over the upcoming cabinet expansion.

The sources also said that the cabinet rejig might see the rise in stature of Manoj Sinha. It may be recalled that during the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Manoj Sinha was being considered one of the top contestants for the post of Chief Minister.