The mid-term course correction in Jammu and Kashmir by reshuffling the cabinet was there in the air for quiet sometime with speculations ripe for who’s who would make into the final list. The state can have a maximum of 25 ministers, including the chief minister. Of these, 14 portfolios are with the PDP and the remaining with the BJP. With the removal of Haseeb Drabu the pace was set for the head rolls and unfortunate Kathua incident took place with some of the BJP ministers rallying for accused too were asked to resign. The going out of two BJP ministers made it more confirmed about the reshuffle. As far BJP high command in New Delhi is concerned the whole exercise is to target 2019 in the country and 2020 in Jammu and Kashmir and not the local issues which generally a man on the street is vehement about. If we believe BJP leaders that the reshuffle is no way connected to the Kathua case then why was the new deputy chief minister in hurry to label the incident as a ‘small thing’. If it was a trivial issue then why BJP wanted to do some ‘image recovery’. For the party survival of PDP-BJP coalition is must to meet the electoral deadlines. The first half had seen BJP loosing connect with the people who overwhelmingly voted the party and gave a commandable position and barter for ministerial berths. Howsoever some of the elected representatives failed to deliver the promises made during the assembly and parliamentary elections so they were made to march out. In fact one of the minister after losing his berth became more vocal on the Kathua case and has been using various platforms to keep his campaign going on. This is assured besides personal grouses and grudges no BJP leader would revolt against party command
diktats as most of them have Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh background which gives them unflinching discipline. With the latest change over BJP is looking ahead to grab maximum seats in future to consolidated its position in government forming. Can it be a reality? One has to wait till the next elections.