Amid the buzz of a Cabinet reshuffle, a suggestive statement by senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari is causing ripples in political circles. The 69-year-old Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India is currently battling criticism over the use of ethanol-blended petrol, facing brickbats from both the public and opposition.
At an event in Nagpur, Gadkari said that it is no longer possible for him to work as before and it is time to hand over responsibility to the younger generation. "I have been active in public life for the last 30 years. I have seen many ups and downs in my life; I have also received awards. But now I cannot work hard anymore. We have to give opportunities to newcomers," he said.
His statement has triggered speculations that the senior BJP leader was hinting at retirement. However, Gadkari’s office has clarified that the statement was taken out of context.
“Gadkari’s statement had nothing to do with politics. He was speaking specifically about the Laxmanrao Mankar Trust, an organisation established by him that runs Ekal Vidyalayas in tribal areas. In that context, Gadkari said that he could no longer take on as much work as before and that the younger generation should be allowed to take greater responsibility. His remarks were clearly related to the functioning and future leadership of the Trust,” the statement said.
The statement was interpreted as many as a hint of major cabinet reshuffle, especially in the wake of major organisational changes which came a few days ago. The current 65-member team includes 51 new faces and is being seen as a sign of significant changes in the party organisation.
Speculations are that the Narendra Modi government is preparing for its biggest cabinet reshuffle since coming to power in 2014, which could occur in the first week of September. The BJP has requested two-year performance reports from all ministers, detailing their achievements and reasons for unmet goals. The Prime Minister has also met secretaries to review the status of pending projects. The ministers have also been provided with reports on their social media reach and engagement.
While there could be division of responsibilities - six senior ministers hold more than two ministers each - there could also be a change in portfolios of some cabinet ministers.
New faces, especially young leaders, may also be included, and some ministers may also be removed based on their performance.
