Surprises in predicable Modi cabinet reshuffle

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet reshuffle and expansion being a performance-driven exercise, is aimed at shaping a new image of his second tenure. The exclusion of several high-profile cabinet ministers in his new team signalled that the Prime Minister was not happy with their performance, and he wanted a new dynamic team that will deliver. Induction of former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal as Cabinet minister and elevation of Union Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to Cabinet rank reflected that the Northeast region continues to be a top priority for the Prime Minister. Representation from the Northeast increased to five with two other new faces Pratima Bhoumik from Tripura and Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh from Manipur inducted as Union Ministers of state. The largest cabinet expansion and also first since Modi assumed the office of the Prime Minister for the second consecutive term in 2019 saw 43 new and old faces taking the oath. The number of women ministers has increased to 11 sends a positive message on focus on women empowerment. The Resignation of key faces of the Modi cabinet – Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, IT and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Environment and Forest Minister Prakash Javadekar, Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Labour and Employment Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar along with seven other ministers just ahead of the reshuffle and expansion of Union Cabinet sent shockwaves in the corridors of power in Delhi. A battered image of the Modi government in its second innings on account of the performance of these key ministries is believed to have led to their exit. Inept handling of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic triggered public anger over the oxygen crisis in several states and the national capital leading to high fatalities. The vaccination strategy of the Union government came under sharp criticism as supplies fell short to meet the demands and targets despite the Prime Minister's announcement of his government's plan to push free mass vaccination at a faster pace. Covid management fell short of the expectation of the Prime Minister which explains the resignation of Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan even after he was elected to the coveted post of Executive Chairman of the World Health Organization for a three-year term beginning in May last year amid pandemic. Even though Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank cited health grounds for his resignation it is seen as a fallout of the slow pace of implementation of the new National Education Policy 2020 announced by the Modi government. Strong resentment among students and parents across the country over the dilemma of the Education Ministry on the postponement of Class X and Class XII final examination of the Central Board of Secondary Education on account of the COVID situation seemed to have added to poor appraisal report of the Education Minister during the performance review of the Union Ministers. IT and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad's exclusion in the new Modi team follows a bitter legal war with the microblogging social networking site Twitter over new guidelines for social media. It will be interesting to watch if the new Modi team is poised to take a more aggressive posture on these new guidelines, but it must refrain from taking any action that may cloud India championing the cause of free speech as the largest democracy in the world. The exit of Union Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar could be seen as a well-thought-out move to push labour reforms aggressively for ease of doing business and expedite flagship projects like One Nation One Ration Card that allows nationwide portability of ration cards under the National Food Security Scheme and allows migrant workers to buy subsidized ration from Fair Price shops from anywhere in the country. The scheme is vital to ensure the return of migrant workers to their workplaces as the country has been started unlocking after a decline in COVID-19 infection of the current second wave. The Supreme Court has set July 31 for implementing the scheme and Prime Minister Modi wants a dynamic face in his cabinet to efficiently handle it. Prakash Javadekar was not just the Environment Minister but was the key government spokesman of the Modi 2.0 and leaving him out from the new team is a strong signal by Modi and the Prime Minister's Office that ministry rejig is also a perception management exercise. The induction of former Sonowal into the Union Cabinet also sends strong signals of future possibilities in state politics. During his stint as Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Sonowal is credited to have initiated big-ticket sports infrastructure projects in the region and successful holding of South Asian Games that turned Guwahati into a mega international sports event witnessing a congregation of about 2500 athletes from eight SAARC countries. Sonowal being inducted as a Cabinet minister is a clear signal that Modi wants him to play a larger role beyond Assam politics.