Lucknow: What will be the fate of the two Union ministers — Hardeep Singh Puri and BL Verma — whose Rajya Sabha terms from UP end on Nov 25?The question is doing the rounds amid speculation of a reshuffle in Narendra Modi cabinet in the coming days, following prolonged performance reviews and strategic organisational audits by central govt.The buzz is further driven by the proposed two-day ‘Chintan Shivir’ on Sept 23–24, where all cabinet ministers will present vision documents and undergo strict performance evaluations before PM.Against this backdrop, the future of Puri and Verma is likely to be watched, not merely as a question of individual political careers but as an indicator of BJP’s larger personnel strategy.Puri is among the few BJP MPs to have completed two terms in Rajya Sabha. A career diplomat, Puri was first elected to Rajya Sabha in 2018 in a bypoll which was necessitated after then defence minister Manohar Parrikar resigned to serve as Goa CM. Puri was appointed as a Union minister in Modi 1.0 govt in 2017 and was required to be an MP. He was re-elected to Rajya Sabha in 2020 while continuing as a Union minister in Modi 2.0 govt.BL Verma, a Lodh OBC, was elected to Rajya Sabha in 2020. A year later on July 7, 2021, he was elevated as Union minister of state in Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region and in Ministry of Cooperation. On June 9, 2024, after PM Modi returned to office for the third time, Verma was appointed as MoS in Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. He was also made MoS in Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.BJP sources say Verma enjoys support of the party brass and has been one of the key contenders for a top organisational post also. There are broad indications that he might be asked to take a plunge in the poll cauldron of Uttar Pradesh which goes to polls early next year. This, experts said, would represent a significant change in political positioning. Instead of remaining a Delhi-based minister and Rajya Sabha member, Verma could become part of BJP’s effort to reinforce its organisational and social coalition on the ground ahead of the Assembly election.Sources said BJP, nevertheless, can spring a surprise by hefting new faces for Rajya Sabha. Of the eight MPs from UP who will retire on Nov 25, at least three have got two RS terms — Neeraj Shekhar, Puri and former national general secretary Arun Singh. Shekhar, a former Lok Sabha MP from Ballia, is the son of the late PM Chandra Shekhar.Among others, Seema Dwivedi is a three-time MLA and a one-term RS MP. Similarly, former UP DGP Brij Lal and Geeta Shakya will also be completing their single term in the upper house. Dinesh Sharma has already resigned from RS following his appointment as Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
