RSS Role In Cabinet Reshuffle?

Anticipation surrounding the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle is reportedly waning as dates remain unfinalized, leaving ministerial aspirants increasingly disheartened by the delays, a source says. Political observers note that party leaders have struggled to reach a consensus on which sitting ministers to drop and which new faces to induct, a source says. 

Amid these deliberations, pressure is reportedly mounting from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to take its advisories into account to ensure smoother and more cohesive governance, a source says. Attention has also turned to senior leader Nitin Gadkari, who was allocated multiple portfolios,including Shipping, Rural Development, and MSME, when the administration first took office in 2014. Over time, his responsibilities were reduced, leaving him solely with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways by 2024, a source says. 

While admirers dubbed him "the performer" for his infrastructure delivery, debate continues over whether this reduction of portfolio was intended to let him focus on critical infrastructure projects or to manage his political size, a source says. Speculation had previously surfaced that Gadkari might be shifted to a less prominent ministry in a bid to curb his growing influence, a source says. 

However, reports indicate that the RSS backed him strongly, signaling that his administrative capability should be retained, source says. The RSS, perhaps suggested that if a portfolio change is imminent, he could be reassigned to the Ministry of Education to leverage his administrative acumen in addressing systematic challenges like exam paper leaks and bringing fresh institutional reforms, a source says. The RSS has historically placed significant emphasis on educational and cultural ministries, believing that long-term social change begins at the foundational school level, a source says. Consequently, political observers maintain that when the long-awaited Cabinet reshuffle takes place, the RSS'sdistinct influence of the RSS will be clearly evident in the final appointments, a source says.