Of the four key ministers who were eased out in the Wednesday’s reshuffle of the Narendra Modi cabinet, Health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan’s did not surprise many. His exit was seen as a much-needed course correction to reassure the country that the government is in control in its war on COVID and all is not lost.

Dr Harsh Vardhan, along with senior ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad, Prakash Javadekar and Ramesh Pokhriyal, resigned within hours to go for the mega reshuffle that saw 12 sitting ministers being axed and 36 new faces being inducted. The reshuffle took the strength of the Cabinet to 78, including the PM, just a shade short of the stipulated 81.

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Dr Harsh Vardhan’s exit was seen as a strong sign of the government’s admission of gaps in the handling of the deadly second wave of coronavirus. Vardhan had been under scanner for a long time with the PM holding regular meetings over COVID where the minister reportedly made presentations and was asked discomforting questions.

The second wave of COVID-19, that claimed over one lakh lives, not only dented the government’s image internationally, it also exposed the weaknesses in health infrastructure. The shortage of key medicines and oxygen cylinders and social media cries for help going viral did not help. Coupled with the vaccine shortage in early phases of the inoculation drive hit Dr Vardhan hard.

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The bad press that the government got as visuals of people struggling for oxygen and dying for want of medical care made international headlines, warranted a strong action, a makeover before the elections in 5 states next year and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Also going down with the Health minister was his deputy Ashwini Kumar Choubey.

Axing of both ministers is an indication that the PM wanted to start the crucial ministry on a clean slate and give the new team time to devise strategies before the predicted third wave of COVID-19.

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The Opposition was quick to attack the government and said the blame actually lay with the PM. “The NDMA is responsible for criminal mismanagement of COVID19. It is headed by the Prime Minister. Will the PM take responsibility for his failures? Or will the PM only make Dr. Harsh Vardhan the scapegoat…” Congress communications department head Randeep Surjewala said.