Small Cabinet reshuffle likely this week

There are two vacancies to be filled. The first is at the ministry of sports and youth affairs after Sarbananda Sonowal became Assam chief minister. Similarly, the junior minister of social justice and empowerment, Vijay Sampla, has been sent as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Punjab unit chief.

Five states, including Goa, will go to the polls by early 2017 and another two, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, by December 2017. The BJP would work towards retaining Gujarat and winning Himachal Pradesh from the Congress. The other four states slated for polls by early 2017 are Uttar Pradesh (UP), Punjab, Manipur and Uttarakhand. The BJP is keen to win UP and Uttarakhand, and remain part of the ruling alliance in Punjab. This could be a factor in elevating individuals from these states.

The Cabinet reshuffle and changes in party might reflect this by inclusion of more Other Backward Class and Dalit faces. In the Cabinet, the big four - finance, external affairs, defence and home - are unlikely to be touched. There could be changes in other ministries.

AAP to contest Madhya Pradesh assembly polls
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday announced it will contest the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections in 2018, alleging the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state has "failed on all fronts".

"We are going to contest 2018 MP Assembly elections. For this, our organisational structure with 10 youth for one booth will be in place by December 2016," AAP leader Ashutosh told reporters here.

"The party has already decided to fight (the) Assembly elections in Gujarat and Goa," he said, adding that it stands to gain abundantly in different parts of the state as Congress has now become a spent force.

Ashutosh alleged that "rampant corruption is prevailing in MP and the 'Vyapam scam' stands witness to it". "Lawlessness was prevailing in the state and the crime against women was highest in the state," the AAP leader claimed. "Lawlessness was prevailing in the state and the crime against women was highest in the state," the AAP leader claimed.

EC to decide on Delhi MLAs disqualification

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is expected to decide this week on the office of profit issue regarding Delhi's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs.

ECI is examining the issue of disqualification of 21 AAP MLAs and has taken cognisance of the President's decision against signing a Delhi government Bill to exclude the post of parliamentary secretary from the ambit of office of profit.

With the President refusing assent to the Bill, the 21 ruling party MLAs have no legal backing for holding the post of parliamentary secretary.

Although the Delhi government will not fall if the 21 are disqualified, it will dent the government's reputation and could affect its prospects in Punjab, where it is preparing to fight the coming Assembly election seriously.