With Nitish Kumar-led Bihar in its kitty, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is on a new high, and is said to be contemplating a far-far reaching reshuffle in the union government as also in the organizational machinery, so as to keep the party battle-fit for the 2019 elections.
First hints of the impending reshuffle were given when BJP president Amit Shah decided to fight upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. Shah was earlier a MLA and many thought he coveted the idea of running Gujarat one day. That is, however, past now, and if the sources are to be believed, Shah could land a heavyweight portfolio at the Centre, possibly Defence.
Presently Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is looking after Defence, as an additional charge.
If Shah were to move to the Union Cabinet, who would fill the shoes of the party president?
Sources say that Om Mathur, the high profile party functionary who has handled states like Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat for the party, is tipped to become the BJP president. Mathur is extremely close to Modi as also to the RSS, and at one point the party and the extended parivar was said to be contemplating replacing Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje with Mathur.
Additionally, with M Venkaiah Naidu’s elevation as Vice President, and the death of A M Dave, there are portfolios currently being handled by others as additional charge.
Sources say that Smriti Irani could well become the full-time I&B Minister.
