Is the cabinet reshuffle good for India?

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has announced a major cabinet reshuffle in an attempt to revive the flagging fortunes of his ruling coalition.

The changes followed a series of catastrophic results for his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in state elections earlier this year.

But Indian newspapers described the reshuffle as an uninspiring and unimaginative exercise with the only notable change being the swapping of jobs between the foreign and finance ministers.

The switching of portfolios between Jaswant Singh and Yashwant Sinha has been heavily criticised, given current tensions with Pakistan and the sensitivity of Delhi's improving relations with the United States.

The elevation of hawkish Interior Minister LK Advani to the post of deputy premier has also been widely viewed as a shift in the ruling party towards hardline politics.

Will the reshuffle rejuvenate the government of India, is it a desperate bid to hold on to power, or will it make no difference at all?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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Your reaction

BJP has made it clear they want to enforce hardline communal politics

Sheela, Dubai

By elevating a communal hawkish RSS leader Advani to the post of Deputy Prime Minister in India, the ruling BJP has made it very clear they want to enforce hardline communal politics. It's shame on the allies to stay with BJP just for the sake of power
Sheela, Dubai

This reshuffle is directed towards maintaining the support of the other political parties that make the existence of the current government possible. The situation of the country is going to be unchanged.
Nishant Kharod, USA / California

It is difficult to understand how those who were perceived to be performing below the mark in one area would produce satisfactory results in another. Cabinet reshuffles are not uncommon in India's log-rolling, horse-trading marketplace of parliamentary politics. This one, as others in the past, is unlikely to enhance the government's performance.
Bhavana Padiyath, UK

I appreciate the Indian PM's appointments

Ambrish Bhardwaj, India

I appreciate the Indian PM's appointments. It is clear that PM's foreign and domestic policy has completely failed; he has failed to even convince his own party that he has any kind of vision. I appreciate that PM at least accepted his failure and made the way for new administration. Earlier governments never did this. BJP should now reward him by making him India's Vice President. The risk factor is zero as this is only post where performance required is also zero. I am sure Mr Vajpayee will give 100% performance as vice president and will be able to save whatever is left of his reputation.
Ambrish Bhardwaj, India

The appointment of LK Advani as the Deputy PM will further alienate the moderate vote base. Inclusion of "film stars" in the Union Cabinet and the exclusion of social activists like Maneka Gandhi spells further disaster for the ruling coalition. What are they trying to say? That the BJP government would prefer glamour over values and character? They are counting down towards the evaporation of their glory.
RB, UK

It is time for these communal people to go. The carnage they inflicted on the poor people of Gujarat is utterly disgusting. India has its roots in being a secular country. The proud people (Hindus, Muslims Sikhs and Christians) of India will elect the people who respect and believe in these secular traditions of India.
Mohinder, Canada

Unfortunately the Indian Prime Minister does not have any plans in mind. He has no clear goal where he wants to take his country. He has no vision as how to solve country's burning problems, the poverty, unemployment, injustice, corruption and minorities' rights. His whole period as prime minister is covered with anti-Pakistan campaign. That is his political slogan, social slogan. The reshuffle of cabinet is just another example of diverting people of India's attention from the real problems
Ausim Mobeen, Canada

I have great faith Sinha and Singh will do their job sincerely

Vivek Manchanda, India

I have great faith in both Yashwant Sinha and Jaswant Singh and they will do their job sincerely. And why does every print media (outside India) refer to Mr Advani as "hawkish" Mr Advani? That he proposed a confederation of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh is hawkish? The reshuffle doesn't seem too important other than the fact that Mr Advani might succeed Mr Vajpayee in case BJP comes to power again.
Vivek Manchanda, India

Appointment of K.L. Advani as a Deputy Prime Minister proves that India is not a secular country, it only claims so. India fools the whole world by its dramas. It nominated A. Salam as President of India (a ceremonial post) just to give an impression that India is still secular. Will India ever dare to make any practising Muslim or Christian as its prime minister? Certainly not.
Z. Ali, US

There is no reason to believe that swapping posts would provide better government. I am sure that it is not a good move for India in the current environment of issues with Pakistan and when relations with US were improving.
Mahesh, India/US

This reshuffle will make no difference because it is the same few who follow the same backward ideas and have no clue as how their country can prosper and compete in the world market. Yashwant-Jashwant, Sinha, Singh - what difference does it make? Change the names, change the bodies. Until their allegiance changes from themselves to their people, don't look for any hope from Delhi politicians.
Ranjna, New Jersey, USA

They are putting on a brave face for the ballot-battle

Samsher Verma, Canada

The BJP reshuffle is clearly aimed at bolstering its chances in the upcoming elections. Instead of bringing the criminals of Gujarat to justice, they are focussing on putting on a brave face for the ballot-battle with the Congress. Vajpayee has clearly relinquished his goodwill by giving in to the hawks like Advani and crew. This will only result in the economic liberalisation program slowing down until the elections, more and more corruption at the state level and flight of foreign investment as they will see this as a sign of instability.
Samsher Verma, Canada

Ministers Sinha and Singh are both quite capable. To be fair, Yashwant Sinha did do a great deal for liberalisation. But he cannot be blamed because opposition parties in India will always put themselves ahead of the common good. Congress and other opposition parties knew Sinha's policies were sound, but they gummed up his entire agenda. Jaswant Singh seems to be stronger, and I hope that he can stand against the copious pettiness that Indian politics has to offer, so that the common man may actually be put first!
Karan, US