Union cabinet reshuffle on cards

A cabinet reshuffle is on the cards, well-placed sources said Wednesday, adding that it may take place before Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves on a three-nation tour Nov 11.

The sources said the reshuffle was most likely to take place Nov 9.

Arun Jaitley is expected to give up the additional charge of defence ministry, with the sources indicating that Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar may replace him in that ministry.

Parrikar, along with Goa Bharatiya Janata Party president Vijay Tendulkar and organising secretary Satish Dhond, was summoned to Delhi Wednesday for a meeting with Modi and party president Amit Shah.

The chief minister, however, said later that there were no discussions on his joining the union cabinet.

"The prime minister did not talk about my joining the cabinet. We discussed Goa issues," Parrikar said.

Besides the defence ministry, the charge of rural development ministry also awaits a full-time minister. The charge was given to Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari after Gopinath Munde's death.

Ravi Shankar Prasad (information technology and law) and Prakash Javadekar (information and broadcasting, and environment) are also handling two ministries each.

The Other BJP leaders whose names are making rounds for induction into the cabinet include Yashwant Sinha's son Jayant Sinha and Hansraj Ahir.