Ahead Budget 2023, PM Modi's cabinet likely to see expansion, major reshuffles expected: Source

Months ahead of Budget Session 2023, speculation is rife about an expansion and reshuffle of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet, sources said. PM Modi may use the window between Makar Sakranti (January 14) and the start of the Budget session to expand and reshuffle his cabinet, India Today has learnt.

The likely changes may be linked to revamping the BJP organisation as the tenure of current party's national chief Jagat Prakash Nadda ends on January 20. Moreover, the party will also hold its national executive meeting in January and there are talks in political circles that some MPs from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh may be accommodated in the new cabinet.

The expansion will be done keeping in mind that the assembly elections in nine states are to be held next



year and the Lok Sabha polls to be held in 2024, sources added.

The possible exercise may also remove certain ministers on the basis of their performances. The last reshuffle in Modi 2.0 cabinet took place on July 7, 2021, in which 12 ministers, including some prominent names, were dropped.

2023 will be a year when nine states and possibly the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will witness Assembly elections. These polls assume more importance because Lok Sabha elections will be held in 2024.

Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Telangana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan will go to the polls next year. Recently, the BJP secured a massive win in PM Modi's hometown Gujarat and bagged 155 seats out of 182, breaking its previous records.