Rajiv Pratap Rudy resigns amid reports of likely reshuffle in Modi ministry

A reshuffle of the Union Council of Ministers appeared imminent with minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy resigning tonight amid speculation that some more ministers may quit ahead of the exercise expected before Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for China on Sunday.

BJP chief Amit Shah, who held a meeting with some senior ministers at his residence in the morning, met Modi later in the day.

Sources said more ministers may resign as Modi prepares to induct new faces, including those from the JD(U) and AIADMK, into his council of ministers.

Rudy, who was holding the portfolio of skill development and entrepreneurship and represents Bihar's Saran Lok Sabha constituency, is expected to be given an organisational assignment in the BJP, sources close to him said.

Sources said Kalraj Mishra, who had met Shah today, may also resign. He is well above 75 years, the age bar the party has informally set for  ministers.

Earlier in the day, Union minister Mahendra Nath Pandey was appointed Uttar Pradesh BJP president in place of Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, creating one more vacancy in the Council of Ministers.

The reshuffle may take place before Modi departs for China to attend the BRICS summit.

Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti has also reportedly offered to quit on health grounds.

AIADMK's Thambi Durai and K Venugopal are being seen as among likely representatives of their party in the Cabinet if the Tamil Nadu party joins the Modi government. At least two members of the JD(U) are also likely to join.

There are several vacancies in the government while some senior ministers, including Arun Jaitley and Harsh Vardhan, are holding additional portfolios.

The president is scheduled to leave for Tirupati tomorrow. As of now nothing has been communicated to Rashtrapati Bhawan, as per sources.