Big change big task modi’s new team has the job of reviving india

Big change big task modi’s new team has the job of reviving india

Three things stand out in yesterday’s big Cabinet reshuffle. First, Narendra Modi has clearly sent out a performance message – crucial remits with great bearing on India’s post-pandemic revival, like health, education, labour, aviation, petroleum, pharma, IT, telecom and railways, will be helmed by new ministers. As will be crucial portfolios like law and I&B. The standout new minister in terms of the PM’s big bet is ex-IAS Ashwini Vaishnaw, who’s got IT, telecom and railways. That Vaishnaw gets these jobs held earlier by supposed Cabinet heavyweights says a lot about how much is expected of him. Expectations will also be high for Mansukh Mandaviya, who has health and pharma (part of chemicals). The conjoining of health and pharma should have happened long back. Covid finally made GoI see this.

Jyotiraditya Scindia, doing what his father did in a Congress government, civil aviation, inherits a portfolio that oversees an industry now in great trouble. He, too, is expected to deliver. As are the likes of Kiren Rijiju, who’s got law at a time GoI and SC are often in vocal disagreement. Amit Shah’s charge of cooperation is interesting too, given state governments have traditionally dominated cooperatives.

Second, there’s a razor-sharp focus on politics and coming elections. There is a clear message on representational politics, reflecting regions and social constituencies crucial for BJP, especially for assembly polls in 2022 and 2023. With UP heading for elections next year, a number of OBC faces have made the cut. SP is pinning its hopes on reviving its OBC vote. BJP appears to have anticipated the danger. The increased representation for Bengal is aimed at bolstering the BJP’s state unit’s sapped morale amid TMC aggression. Most of the inductees are less than 50 and seven are women – signalling great care in age and gender balancing.

Third, with 77 members, this is Modi’s biggest council of ministers. This big team has the job of getting pandemic-battered India back on track. Just days to go before the 30th anniversary of reforms, the economy is in the worst shape in 30 years. The vaccination question is not fully answered. A Covid third wave remains a potent fear. If the council of ministers’ primary job is to govern, this new Modi team has its task cut out.