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New Delhi: According to highly placed sources, a major union cabinet reshuffle is expected either on 22nd or 23rd June. The exercise would be given final touches, soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, currently on a five day tour to France, returns on 18th June.

Party and government sources confirmed that besides Cabinet expansion cum reshuffle, there will be new BJP team at the party headquarters to assist new chief Nitin Nabin. For the last four months, Nitin Nabin, singlehandedly running the show at party headquarters.

Ever since Narendra Modi government completed Two years in office on this June 10, of its third term with over all 12 years, there were intense speculations about cabinet reshuffle due. There were reports that PMO (prime minister’s office) had already done a major exercise with regards to reshuffle. The PMO had reviewed implementation of various government schemes and programs, during the last two years, along with functioning of various Ministries and Departments and also performance of Ministers.

With the BJP’s resounding victory in the recent assembly polls in West Bengal and Assam, the reshuffle buzz had further intensified since Prime Minister Modi may have rewarded several partymen. Sources said that the reshuffle would include dropping of ministers and they may be accommodated in the party and also vice versa.

Presently, the NDA Union Cabinet stands at 71 members of which 61 are from BJP and remaining from alliance partners. The maximum strength allowed of the union council of ministers is upto 81.

Sources indicated that the reshuffle would also focus on Uttar Pradesh, where assembly elections are due early next year. For Modi, stakes are high as far as winning the mega state like UP. At present, the BJP has 33 members in the lok sabha from UP out of 80. There were another 24 MP from UP representing Rajya sabha. Besides UP, border state Punjab is also going to polls early next year.

It may be noted that union minister Pankaj Choudhry has been appointed to head UP unit of the BJP in December 2025. Another, union minister, Harsh Malhotra has also been appointed to head Delhi unit of BJP.

The recent Rajya Sabha ticket distribution in state units of BJP, also indicates the shape of new cabinet going to be. Union Ministers Ranveet Singh Bittu and George Kurian were not renominated for the June 18, Rajya Sabha election, even though their tenures are coming to an end.

sources said, with Punjab assembly elections scheduled early next year, Ravneet singh Bittu (a jat sikh and grand son of former CM Beant Singh) may be assigned to Punjab elections.

Another party leader Tarun Chugh, was rewarded and was nominated to Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh this time. He is bound to become union minister to appease Punjab and his community, sources said.