Former Bihar Deputy CM Sushil Modi is BJP nominee for Rajya Sabha bypoll

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 27

Putting to rest all speculations regarding his future, the BJP on Friday nominated former Bihar Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi as its candidate for Rajya Sabha by-poll.

While Sushil Modi's election to the Upper House is almost certain, the decision has sparked off speculations about a Cabinet reshuffle in the near future.

The former Bihar Deputy CM is believed to be among the top contenders for several vacancies in the Narendra Modi Cabinet for which names of several leaders, including Jyotiraditya Scindia are doing the rounds.

It is said that some new faces may be inducted from West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Assam and Uttar Pradesh in the expansion expected “sometime in December”.

Some ministers from these states may also be dropped, it is being said.

The seat had fallen vacant following the death of Lok Janshakti Party's Ram Vilas Paswan, who was a Cabinet minister in the Modi government.

Allies Shiv Sena and the Shiromani Akali Dal, which were part of his Cabinet, also left the ruling coalition NDA, resulting in other vacancies.

Currently several ministers like Piyush Goyal, Narendra Singh Tomar and Prakash Javadekar are holding multiple portfolios.

With the LJP out of the Bihar NDA after its decision to contest separately, the BJP’s decision to reclaim the seat has also put an interesting question mark on future of LJP president Chirag Paswan who led an acrimonious campaign against its Bihar ally JD(U) in the recent Assembly elections.