BJP face-lifting mode: Cabinet rejig, key welfare announcements in stock

New Delhi: As the country easing out of the COVID counts and the criticism targeting the Centre for its failure seemed waning, the ruling BJP's big three leaders are said to have met to review the performance of selected ministries amid the rumour of a possible rejig in the cabinet.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda had a discussion with other ministers in the cabinet. The meeting is said to have been convened to assess the performances of various ministries in regards to the COVID response and other key issues that taunted the party.

Reports suggested that the meeting went on for hours that are viewed as significant that it convened after a discussion with the UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, with whom the BJP national leadership has reportedly dissensions over a number of issues, including the COVID handling in the state.

The leadership fears a backlash in the upcoming Assembly elections in UP due to Yogi's response to the pandemic situation, where thousands of people lost lives for short of basic medical facilities.

Party sources denied reports of any unusual happening in regards to the meeting, calling it a routine annual exercise to take stock of the party's performances and individuals' contributions towards the set goals.

The series of these meetings, involving PM Modi directly, have strengthened the significance in the wake of mass defection happening in West Bengal as most of the party members, including BJP's second national chief Mukul Roy, did a reverse exodus, seeking shelter in their home folder- Trinamool Congress.

The party's top leadership is of the opinion that the time is ripe to make appropriate move to overhaul the shortcomings and criticism by which the image of the party has been tarnished, especially the Centre was seen in a chaotic situation with no-proper plan to arrest the relentless gush of COVID cases, the effect of which reflected in the international media.

The spiralling inflation due to the COVID induces curbs and the skyrocketing petrol and diesel prices while common people, daily wagers and other industrial employers go almost bankrupt by being the direct victims of the pandemic created waves have further worsened the country's economy, pushing people to directly blame the Centre.

In the simmering situation where the BJP government at the Centre being boiled for their good for nothing status in the crisis, the facelift of the government became a key matter of prestige for the party that wanted to remain relevant in the upcoming elections in states.

The meetings are believed to have carved out a roadmap for a national vaccination drive, PM Modi's free vaccination for all from June 21 announcement is viewed as a part of this bigger plan. The Centre is also considering divesting the control of vaccination from the states to make it fully under its control.

The Petroleum Ministry, Steel Ministry, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Heavy Industries and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change are said to have presented a brief of their progress report.