Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has said a Union Cabinet reshuffle could take place “very soon”, with fresh faces from the BJP and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party expected to enter the government as the ruling alliance prepares for a broader political reset.
The Republican Party of India chief made the remarks in Nagpur on Monday, a day when the BJP unveiled a sweeping reorganisation of its national leadership. Athawale linked the possibility of changes in the Council of Ministers to the restructuring within the ruling party, saying new representatives from the BJP and its NCP ally could be accommodated.
His comments added weight to speculation surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ministerial team after weeks of discussion within political circles over changes in both the government and the BJP organisation. The party’s new national team under president Nitin Nabin has introduced a large number of fresh office-bearers while returning several experienced figures to organisational roles.
Athawale simultaneously intensified efforts to draw Sharad Pawar’s NCP towards the National Democratic Alliance. He said ideological differences should not prevent the opposition party from working with the ruling coalition and argued that joining the NDA could strengthen development efforts.
The minister went further by suggesting that if Sharad Pawar himself did not favour such a move, the eight Lok Sabha MPs belonging to the NCP could consider joining the NDA. His remarks underscored continuing attempts by leaders of the ruling coalition to exploit uncertainty surrounding the political direction of Pawar’s party.
NCP leaders, however, have sought to shut down speculation about an imminent shift. Senior leaders have told district-level functionaries that the party intends to remain in the opposition, following questions from workers concerned about persistent reports of a possible move towards the NDA.
The competing signals highlight the significance of Maharashtra in calculations surrounding any expansion of the Union government. The state remains central to the BJP-led alliance, which includes the NCP headed by Ajit Pawar and the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde. Accommodation of allies has consequently emerged as one of the issues surrounding speculation about ministerial changes.
Athawale has repeatedly advocated Sharad Pawar’s entry into the NDA. In July, he publicly said the veteran politician and his party would be welcome in the alliance, while in June he urged Pawar to choose the NDA rather than contemplate closer organisational integration with the Congress.
Speculation over Pawar’s future has persisted despite denials from his party. Discussions have ranged from possible reconciliation with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP to closer ties with Congress, while NCP leaders have publicly maintained that they remain committed to the opposition.
The Cabinet speculation has meanwhile gained momentum following the BJP’s organisational overhaul. Nabin, who took charge as national president in January, unveiled a substantially changed national team on Monday. Smriti Irani and Ram Madhav returned to prominent organisational roles, while former Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb was among the experienced figures brought into the new structure.
The restructuring also produced major changes in the party’s digital and youth operations. Amit Malviya was replaced as head of the BJP’s IT and social-media apparatus, while Tejasvi Surya made way as chief of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha. Deepak Mhaskey was given responsibility for IT and social media, with Hemang Joshi taking charge of the youth wing.
Discussions about changes in the government had been circulating before the organisational appointments. Meetings involving senior BJP leaders during July generated expectations that adjustments in the party structure could eventually be accompanied by changes in the Council of Ministers.
Athawale had himself earlier suggested that a Cabinet reshuffle was likely after Independence Day, making Monday’s comments a continuation of his public predictions rather than the first indication from him that ministerial changes were approaching.
