Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to reshuffle his council of ministers for the first time since he assumed the charge for a second term. The mega cabinet reshuffle will likely be announced tomorrow at 6 pm. 

Names of several leaders are doing the rounds as probables for induction, among them are BJP leaders Sarbananda Sonowal, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Narayan Rane. 

JD(U) leader R C P Singh and LJP’s Pashupati Kumar Paras, both of whom are expected to represent the BJP’s allies in the government, have also reached Delhi from Bihar.

Names of Bhupender Yadav, Anil Baluni, Sudhanshu Trivedi are doing the rounds while BJP MPs Sushil Modi, Ashwini Vaishnav and G V L Narasimha Rao are also being mentioned as probables.

However, none of them have spoken about hte possibility of joining the government. There is also no official word on the Cabinet reshuffle.

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Meanwhile, the reshuffle comes ahead of 2022 when 5 states will go to polls, including the politically important Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. A massive review was undertaken by the BJP top brass of the works of Union ministers and the organisation against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A BJP leader told PTI the reshuffle is expected to be a “big shake-up”. PM Modi addressing political challenges, including the assembly polls in five states early next year, and governance issues.

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Representation of BJP MPs from West Bengal and the Northeast may go up. Another BJP ally All India Jharkhand Students Union may also get a berth, sources told PTI as the BJP looks to boost its partners’ representation in the ministry after its old allies like Shiv Sena and Shiromani Akali Dal severed their ties with it.

The current strength of the Council of Ministers is 53, including PM Modi, and its maximum number can be 81.