Tridib Raman
Modi Government 3.0 is now nearing the completion of two years in office in Delhi. Trusted sources connected to the central government claim that preparations have already begun to give the Modi government a new look and structure. Prime Minister Modi returned from his foreign tour on the 20th, and the very next day he chaired a marathon meeting of his Council of Ministers at his residence, Seva Teerth. It is said that the meeting lasted around four and a half hours. Under the guidance of Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba and NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Ashok Lahiri, a detailed PPT presentation reviewing the performance of various ministers and their ministries was presented before the Prime Minister. Sources also reveal that ministers were formally graded based on their performance. Ministries considered to have performed exceptionally well were awarded an “A Plus” rating. According to sources, only about five or six ministries managed to secure the coveted “A Plus” ranking, including J.P. Nadda’s Health Ministry, Manohar Lal Khattar’s Power Ministry, Prahlad Joshi’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Kishan Reddy’s Coal Ministry, and Nitin Gadkari’s Ministry of Road Transport. Meanwhile, ministries such as Labour, Education, and Skill Development were identified as requiring major structural improvements. Ministers were instructed to cut unnecessary expenditure and immediately curb foreign tours and participation in international summits. They were also told to spend at least five days every month in different parts of the country organizing ministry-related programs and directly engaging with the public. Each ministry has been asked to become more accountable and proactive. In areas where ministries are unable to organize programs independently, they have been advised to seek support from the party organization. Every ministry has also been directed to prepare a “Vision Report” outlining its goals and benchmarks. It is said that during the meeting, the Prime Minister openly praised some of his ministerial colleagues, while others had to endure stern warnings and tough advice.
When Will the Modi Cabinet Reshuffle Take Place?
Tridib Raman
The million-dollar question now is: when will the new-look Modi cabinet actually be unveiled? Sources suggest that some more waiting is likely. An Adhimas or Malmas period, considered inauspicious for major undertakings, is continuing until June 15. Voting for 24 Rajya Sabha seats is scheduled for June 18. By the end of July, preparations for Parliament’s Monsoon Session generally begin. Therefore, the cabinet reshuffle exercise may be finalized around that time. Next year, assembly elections are due in five states, including Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, in March, followed by elections in Gujarat in November. Political observers believe that Modi, known for his strategic political calculations, may finalize his Council of Ministers while carefully balancing the social equations of these election-bound states. The opposition has long been demanding the resignation of certain Union ministers, and this could provide Modi with an opportune moment to part ways with some of them. Additionally, several senior ministers have been part of Modi’s cabinet continuously since the first Modi government in 2014. Many of them are now above 70 years of age, and some may also be dropped. At the same time, the BJP is now focusing on bringing new allies into the NDA fold. If Sharad Pawar agrees, his daughter Supriya Sule could become part of the Modi cabinet. Talks are reportedly also underway with Uddhav Thackeray. The BJP is said to be in continuous contact with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). If Hemant Soren’s political posture remains favorable, JMM too could emerge as a new NDA ally. BJP strategists are also reportedly maintaining communication with the DMK. In West Bengal, a major split within the Trinamool Congress is being speculated upon, while in Punjab, similar possibilities are being discussed regarding the Aam Aadmi Party. If BJP’s political strategies unfold as planned, leaders joining from these parties may also have to be accommodated with ministerial positions in Delhi. According to sources, the Prime Minister himself believes that leaders from his party who have been enjoying the privileges of power in Delhi for the last 10–12 years now need to be sent back to the ground level and assigned organizational responsibilities. In that sense, the upcoming reshuffle of the Modi cabinet could mark the beginning of an entirely new political phase.
PK Returns Home
Tridib Raman
Election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor appears to be slipping into something of a renunciatory mode these days. During a recent visit to Darbhanga in his home state of Bihar, PK surprised journalists by declaring that “for the next five years, until the next Bihar Assembly elections, he would leave behind his home and family and live in an ashram.” It is believed that the Bihar Nav Nirman Ashram, located near Patna and adjacent to IIT Patna, could become PK’s new abode. Political insiders, however, find this sudden spiritual turn rather curious. Just days earlier, PK had reportedly shared a meal with Sunetra Pawar and her two children before leaving for Chennai. From Chennai, he returned to Patna, where, while speaking to journalists late at night in Darbhanga, he made these remarks about retreating to an ashram. Trusted sources close to PK reveal that Ajit Pawar’s two sons are keen on strengthening their party’s grassroots base in Maharashtra. Recently, when Sunetra Pawar submitted the names of 11 members of the party’s national executive to the Election Commission, prominent party leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare were conspicuously absent from the list and were instead accommodated in the broader 25-member committee. Parth Pawar has reportedly been appointed the party’s General Secretary, while Jay Pawar has been assigned the role of Secretary. The agenda behind the Pawar family’s meeting with PK was essentially to explore ways to expand the party’s organizational reach. Sources suggest that PK expressed willingness to take charge of the entire project, reminding them that “he had previously done similar work for Nitish Kumar in Bihar.” He reportedly assured them that his team would begin work immediately and that he himself would spend ten days every month in Maharashtra. However, the fee PK demanded apparently left the Pawar family stunned. They are said to have informed him that they could not hand over the entire project to him, though he could serve as a guide or advisor. The remuneration they offered, however, was far below PK’s expectations. A disappointed PK then boarded a direct flight from Mumbai to Chennai, hoping to meet actor-politician Vijay. But Vijay’s pre-scheduled engagements were reportedly so packed that he could not spare time for the meeting. Disheartened, PK returned from Chennai to Patna, and what followed thereafter is now public knowledge.
BJP Looking for the “Missing Omar”
Tridib Raman
These days, nobody seems to know exactly where Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is. The BJP has even gone to the extent of issuing an online “look-out notice” for him. Neither his own party, the National Conference, nor its alliance partner Congress appears to have any clue about his whereabouts. Omar, who until recently was frequently seen participating in marathon runs and traveling across the country promoting tourism in Jammu & Kashmir, has suddenly vanished from the public eye. Coming to his defense, his 90-year-old father Farooq Abdullah has spoken out openly. Yet even he admits that he currently cannot say where exactly Omar is these days. Meanwhile, Congress, which is part of the ruling alliance in the state, has opened a separate front against him. State Congress leaders have accused Omar of sidelining the party while running the coalition government. Some leaders have even suggested to the party high command in Delhi that Congress should withdraw support from the Omar government. Omar’s real challenge, however, appears to be that these days he is more concerned about his political opponents than his allies. On one hand, he has reportedly been trying to improve ties with the BJP-led central government in Delhi. On the other hand, he is also attempting to strengthen his relationship with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, the very same LG whom Omar has often accused of running a parallel government in the Union Territory.
What Is Adani’s Trump Connection?
For Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani, and their company Green Energy, receiving relief in the United States is nothing short of extraordinary. A major role in helping them secure legal reprieve and get multiple cases against them dismissed was reportedly played by lawyer Robert Giuffra Jr., widely regarded as someone close to Donald Trump. The case against Adani had been ongoing since the Biden administration. When Giuffra, a prominent American lawyer and one of Trump’s trusted legal aides, presented a courtroom presentation reportedly containing more than 100 slides, the court itself was said to have been taken aback.Through his arguments, Giuffra successfully contended that there was a lack of fundamental evidence against Adani. What was particularly striking was that, in his concluding slide before the court, Giuffra reportedly proposed that if his clients were cleared of charges, Adani would invest $10 billion in the United States, potentially generating at least 15,000 jobs. Notably, Robert Giuffra is co-chair of the renowned American law firm Sullivan & Cromwell and also serves as personal counsel to U.S. President Donald Trump. However, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which has been handling the matter, has still imposed penalties, reportedly fining Adani $60 million and his nephew Sagar Adani $120 million.
BJP Plans New Face for Jharkhand
While the BJP has for quite some time been extending a hand of friendship toward Hemant Soren in Jharkhand, it is simultaneously working behind the scenes to strengthen and streamline its own party organization in the state. After successfully breaching what was once considered the impregnable political fortress of Bengal, BJP General Secretary and seasoned organizational strategist Sunil Bansal has now reportedly been informally entrusted with a major new responsibility, to reshape and revamp the BJP’s image and structure in Jharkhand. Sources say Bansal has also been advised to look beyond the state’s two veteran BJP leaders, Babulal Marandi and Arjun Munda, and instead identify and groom a fresh face capable of leading the party’s saffron camp in Jharkhand.
