NEW DELHI: Amid speculations of a reshuffle in the BJP organization and a reshuffle in the Union Cabinet, Narendra Modi's four-hour meeting with Amit Shah has signaled that big changes are on the way. In a meeting held at Modi's residence, Amit Shah and J.P. Nadda was present but left after some time to attend another event.

Sources of BJP claim that for the last several days the top leaders of BJP have been holding meetings continuously. Shah, Nadda and Party General Secretary B.L. Santosh had discussed the changes in the BJP organization by holding informal meetings. The three leaders have prepared a report on possible changes in the organization in view of assembly elections in Telangana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram later this year. Modi had a meeting with Shah-Nadda to discuss this report. Major announcements are likely soon with Modi approving most of the changes.

Fadnavis, Prafulla will be taken in the Modi cabinet

With Ajit Pawar joining the government following the collapse of the NCP in Maharashtra, there has been speculation that Devendra Fadnavis will be inducted into the Modi cabinet. Apart from Fadnavis, NCP's Praful Patel can also become a Minister.

BJP sources also claim that Devendra Fadnavis will be made the Chief Minister of Maharashtra in place of Eknath Shinde as BJP no longer needs Shiv Sena's support. BJP may be saying that Shinde will remain the Chief Minister, but internally, BJP is trying to overthrow Shinde and make its own Chief Minister. Of course, Fadnavis will have to wait until Ajit Pawar proves that he has more than 36 MLAs. Once Pawar takes over the NCP, Fadnavis' path to the Chief Ministership will be paved.

Modi will be given a place in the cabinet to keep Shinde's Shiv Sena with him. BJP sources claim that the inclusion of Prafull Patel from NCP is certain.

Speculations that Raj-Uddhav will get back together

Amid political upheaval in Maharashtra, Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman leader Sena (MNS) grandson Abhijit Panse met Shiv Sena MP (Uddhav group) Sanjay Raut, talks of a reconciliation between Raj and Uddhav have been rife. The meeting held in the office of Shiv Sena's mouthpiece 'Saamna' lasted for about half an hour. No clarification has been given from either side regarding this meeting but sources claim that the two brothers may come together due to the political upheaval in Maharashtra. After Ajit Pawar's coup, Thackeray's Shiv Sena and MNS workers are demanding that the Thackeray family unite. Activists have also put up such posters in Mumbai.

Raj Thackeray's MNS has no political influence. After Eknath Shinde's rebellion, the political situation is not favorable for Uddhav Thackeray too, the leaders of both the parties believe that if both Thackerays unite, both parties can benefit.

BJP is surprised by Ajith's talk of 90 seats

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has yet to prove that he has enough MLAs to escape the anti-defection law, surprising the BJP with statements about the assembly polls, while faction leader Eknath Shinde has gone berserk.

Ajith claimed that his Nationalist Congress Party will contest elections on 90 assembly seats in Maharashtra. Considering that there are 288 seats in the Maharashtra Assembly, if 90 seats are given to NCP, Eknath Shinde group also has to give the same number of seats. In this scenario, BJP will have barely 100 seats left. Given that the number of MLAs of BJP is 106, there will be a rebellion in BJP.

The BJP leader believes that Ajit Pawar is making statements without any basis. Due to this, confusion may arise among the BJP workers. The BJP high command needs to stop them.

Pilot Chief Minister if Congress wins

Pilot supporters claim that Sachin Pilot has been assured of being made the Chief Minister if the Congress wins the Rajasthan Assembly elections later this year. Pilot supporters claim that this promise was made in the presence of Sachin Pilot and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in a meeting held in Congress Delhi. Sachin Pilot, who came out with a happy face after the meeting, said that the Congress High Command has accepted my word. Now we will fight and win the next election together. The pilot's statement is believed to be true by his supporters.

Addressing the press conference after this meeting, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said that the 29 leaders of Rajasthan Congress present in the meeting have unanimously decided that the leaders of Rajasthan Congress have decided to fight the election together.

Four ministers were employed for the Civil Code

The Modi government has taken a step forward in the direction of bringing the Uniform Civil Code bill by forming a group of four Union Ministers. Arjun Meghwal, Smriti Irani and G Kishan Reddy have been included in the group of ministers formed under the chairmanship of Union Minister Kiren Rijiju. Sources say that the Modi government is determined to introduce a bill related to the Uniform Civil Code in the Parliament in this monsoon session, so the four ministers have been entrusted with the responsibility of discussing with different sections of the society and getting them to agree. Kiren Rijiju on issues related to tribals in the Uniform Civil Code, G Kishan Reddy on issues related to North Eastern States, Smriti Irani on issues related to women's rights and Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on legal aspects will discuss with the concerned people and give their suggestions. A draft Uniform Civil Code will be prepared based on these suggestions.

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Prime Minister should not be wifeless: Lalu Yadav

Vada Lalu Yadav, of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), who was in the capital for a scheduled medical check-up, told reporters without naming names that the Prime Minister should stay with his wife. Earlier, he has given marriage advice to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. When asked a question relating this advice to Gandhi being a candidate for the post of Prime Minister, Lalu said that the Prime Minister should be anyone - but he should be married. The Prime Minister should live in the PM Kothi (Bungalow) along with his wife. Prime Minister should not be without a wife. It is wrong to stay without a wife at the Prime Minister's residence, said Lalu.

Surprised by US Ambassador's statement

Eric Garcetti, the American ambassador to India who went to Kolkata on Thursday, said about the violence spread in Manipur that if help is sought to solve the crisis in Manipur, the United States is ready to help in any way. Eastern states cannot develop without peace. Noting that this is an internal matter of India, Eric said that the US is not interested in any strategic issue in Manipur, but only to provide assistance on a humanitarian basis. Congress MP Manish Tiwari responded to Eric's comment saying that it is rare for the US ambassador to make a statement on India's internal affairs.

- Inder Sahni