Cabinet reshuffle likely on Sunday morning

A Union Cabinet reshuffle on the cards for a while, is now directly connected with Tirupati Balaji, say senior BJP leaders who are expecting a call from the PMO for inclusion in the cabinet.

President Ram Nath Kovind will be at the Tirupati Balaji temple on Friday and Saturday to inaugurate the new hospital building of the Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences and the Sri Padmavathi Medical College for Women.

On the same day, he will also attend a civic reception and public meeting at the Sri Venkateswara Art College Ground, Tirupati.

On September 2, the President will have darshan of Sri Varahaswamy temple in Tirumala before returning to Delhi.

So the Union Cabinet shuffle and expansion will be either on Saturday evening or Sunday morning, says a source in the  Prime Minister's Office.

On Sunday afternoon, the Prime Minister is leaving for Myanmar and then China for the BRICS summit. Therefore the only window open for a Cabinet shuffle is Sunday morning.

An expansion of the council of ministers is also due because of the vacancies that have been created due to the sudden demise of environment minister Anil Dave and the return of former defence minister Manohar Parrikar as the chief minister of Goa. The election of M. Venkaiah Naidu as vice-president also deprived the cabinet of a key minister.