Cabinet reshuffle: Modi's going to now bank on North Block

Twelve hours after the Cabinet reshuffle, the change was evident in the air at the North Block.

As Arun Jaitley’s new deputies walked in, echoing the NDA’s vision of growth and GST push, the tinkering - at a time when global warning signs are threatening the Indian economy - left many surprised.

Also read - India can't afford to delay GST anymore

"We believe that GST will be a reality in the monsoon session [of Parliament] and will be working towards it," said Santosh Gangwar who has been shifted from the textile ministry to minister of state for finance.

When asked about the fact that US state department has stated that 7.5 per cent growth in India is "overstated", the debutant minister of Modi's Cabinet and Bikaner MP, Arjun Meghwal, said he had full confidence in the Indian economy.

"Indian economy is growing at the right pace, we have full confidence in 7.5 per cent growth. Our priority will be to push the GST in this monsoon session," Arjun Meghwal told India Today.

What many said in hushed tones was how within a few hours after the Financial Stability and Development Council met on Tuesday (July 5) where Jayant Sinha charted out the course for Indian economy with the RBI governor and other institutional honchos, his marching orders were made public. Such was the last minute surprise that his own officers were left scrambling to handover the files and vacate within twelve hours.

"We were completely surprised, none expected it. We have to now wind up in a hurry," said an official on the condition of anonymity.

Earlier in the day, Sinha chose to meet the senior officials at North Block and later took over as the minister of state for civil aviation.

Although, he continued to duck the political controversy surrounding his new portfolio, he told India Today, "It’s a privilege to work at the aviation ministry, it’s a sunrise sector and look forward to working under Mr Ashok Raju. I had a wonderful time at the finance ministry and as a first time MP I feel honoured to work at these ministries."

Also read - How Modi emerged the biggest winner in the Cabinet reshuffle

While political equations are being weighed behind the decision to replace the Harvard-educated IITian with two ministers of state, the Opposition was quick to point how the pressure is building up for finance minister Arun Jaitley.

"We don’t know whether Arun Jaitley’s importance has decreased or increased with this reshuffle but one thing is clear that he has demolished the Indian economy," said Manish Tewari, Congress spokesperson.

Recently, Arun Jaitley had repelled the attack of Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy who was later reprimanded by the prime minister himself. But there could be underlying currents at work in the party as Jaitley lost out on the coveted I&B portfolio.

So the larger question is, as PM Modi's new trusted lieutenants take charge at the North Block, will they be able to balance the economic compulsions as well as the political ones? And is there a new political equation at work, with North Block as its epicentre?