It’s Assessment Time: Modi Directs Cabinet Ministers To Write Out Report Cards

Amid talks of a cabinet reshuffle, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given one month’s time for cabinet ministers to prepare a report card that will detail important accomplishments of their respective departments.

The ministers have been directed, in the process, to compare the achievements during the three years of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) rule with the last three years of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

The appraisal points to a possible ministerial reshuffle as the deadline for the presentation ends just before the conclusion of the presidential poll. The move is seen as a precursor to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, with the Bharatiya Janata Party aiming to showcase its success story. With this in view, a government source said, a new 'Team Modi' would be formed to consolidate works and programmes taken up during the past three years.

A reshuffle is anyway on the cards for two reasons: One, several vacancies have cropped up in the Cabinet with Manohar Parrikar returning as Goa Chief Minister and the sudden death of environment minister Anil Madhav Dave.

Two, as the ruling party gears up for Lok Sabha polls, changes in the party organisation are likely with a few ministers giving up their portfolios to work in the party.

A political observer said this was going to be a big exercise as several posts of governors lying vacant for a long time also needed to be filled.