PM Modi’s Andaaz creates unrest as cabinet reshuffle speculation intensifies

With Cabinet reshuffle on the cards, unrest and anticipation are running high across ministries. Every corner seems to be discussing only one thing: which ministers will continue and who could lose their portfolios. PM Modi’s Andaaz of surprising everyone as seen with several Chief Ministers and BJP President Nitin Nabin, has further fuelled speculation.

Can the NDA Bridge the Two-Thirds Gap in Lok Sabha for Delimitation? Experts say, Highly Unlikely!

Despite ongoing backchannel efforts and signs of political churn, the BJP-led NDA remains short of the crucial two-thirds majority required to pass a constitutional amendment such as the proposed delimitation bill. Even factoring in potential cross-voting and a possible shift by sections of the Trinamool Congress, the alliance is still some distance away from the 362-mark in the Lok Sabha, which serves as the effective threshold when full attendance is assumed.

Government sources indicate that the Centre is keen to move on delimitation, not merely as a structural electoral exercise but as a necessary precursor to implementing the women’s reservation framework ahead of the 2029 general election. The constitutional mandate requires such a bill to secure the backing of at least two-thirds of members present and voting in both Houses, making the arithmetic particularly challenging in a fragmented political landscape.

While the NDA has demonstrated legislative agility in the past through floor management and strategic alliances, the current numbers suggest that any attempt to push through delimitation will hinge on either significant opposition abstentions or a broader political realignment in the months ahead.

Will TMC Rebel–NCPI Bloc Secure Cabinet Berths in Return for NDA Support?

In a potentially significant political realignment, sources indicate that two Union Cabinet berths may be allocated to leaders from the TMC rebel faction that has recently merged with the Tripura-based Nationalist Congress of People’s India (NCPI). The move is being seen as part of a broader negotiation tied to the group’s decision to extend support to the NDA, effectively boosting the ruling coalition’s numbers in the Lok Sabha.

According to sources familiar with the discussions, the arrangement is framed as a strategic trade-off: political rehabilitation and ministerial representation for the rebels in exchange for legislative backing at a time when every seat carries weight. The inclusion of the NCPI-linked bloc is also expected to give the NDA a marginal but symbolically important edge, particularly in closely contested parliamentary arithmetic.

While there has been no official confirmation from either the BJP leadership or the rebel camp, internal consultations are understood to be at an advanced stage. The development could also have ripple effects in Tripura and West Bengal, where shifting loyalties continue to reshape regional political equations.