Modi will always keep us guessing
lysts. We were told that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) would play a key role but while some RSS favourites have been included, this is not an expansion that benefits gaurakshaks.
We were told that non-performers such as Radha Mohan Singh would go. They have survived. We were assured that poll-bound states such as Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat would get greater representation. They have not.
We were informed that Arun Jaitley’s star was on the decline, that he might even lose finance. In fact, he seems stronger than ever. The two great promotions have gone to Modi’s protégés, Piyush Goyal and Nirmala Sitharaman.
So, is there an overarching pattern to the reshuffle? Well, it confirms two things. One: Modi won’t give in to pressure. So despite a chargesheet, Uma Bharati stays. Suggestions that ML Khattar would be removed from Haryana and given a face-saving Cabinet portfolio after the Ram Rahim fiasco have also proved wrong.
And we know that Narendra Modi likes bureaucrats. So there’s lots of them in the ministry, though not necessarily in areas where they have any expertise.
Hardeep Puri was one of our ablest diplomats but he’s been parachuted into Urban Development. Nor is it clear why KJ Alphons should get tourism or RK Singh should be placed in energy.
But there is nearly always an internal logic to Modi’s moves. The trouble is: we can’t predict these moves and the logic is something that only he understands.
Till we figure out how his mind works, he will keep India guessing.