Rudy resigns amid reports of likely reshuffle in Modi ministry

Rajiv Pratap Rudy resigned as Skill Development Minister on Thursday evening, further fuelling speculation that a reshuffle of the Union Cabinet may be around the corner. Their resignations comes ahead of the much awaited Cabinet reshuffle, expected to take place on Saturday.

Rudy was among three ministers - the other two were steel minister Choudhury Birendra Singh and minister of state for human resource development Upendra Kushwaha - who met the BJP president last week.

A reshuffle will help the Narendra Modi government weed out the dead wood from the government and infuse new blood in the cabinet.

Finance and corporate affairs minister Arun Jaitley was given the additional charge of defence, while Smriti Irani got the additional portfolio of information and broadcasting. However, the PM had asked him to wait. President Ram Nath Kovind is scheduled to visit Tirupati on Friday and will return to Delhi on Saturday afternoon, making September 2 the most likely date for the reshuffle. After the recent train derail and multiple accidents in recent times, the ministry is railways is expected to see a change and Minister Suresh Prabhu reportedly offered to quit.

India's economic growth slumps as big reforms bite
India's GDP slowed to 5.7% in the April-June quarter from 7.9% in the corresponding period a year ago . Critics, however, said the residual impact of demonetization was continuing to impact growth.

12 day-relaxation on bandh in Darjeeling: GJM Joint Secy
Binay Tamang also said that the next step of the movement will be decided after their meeting on September 12 in Uttarkanya . The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has called for the indefinite bandh to be suspended for 12 days till September 12.

Former 49ers' linebacker Ahmad Brooks signing with Green Bay Packers
Brooks spent the last nine seasons in San Francisco, but the 49ers cut the 33-year-old loose Friday. Or if he's put on the PUP, then we'll deal with that as it comes".

In his first comments after being asked to resign as minister, Rajiv Pratap Rudy told NDTV that "It's not my decision, it's the decision of the party, and I will follow (it)".

In the last elections in 2012 when Modi was the State's Chief Minister, the BJP had won 116 seats. Also adding up to the big picture was the series of meetings that BJP president Amit Shah held on Thursday at his Akbar Road residence. By appointing Pandey as the UP BJP chief, the party has made sure the Brahmin community will not be upset with Mishra's removal. Five junior ministers were also dropped. Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan is holding additional charge of the Environment portfolio following the demise of Anil Madhav Dave in May. The Assembly polls are slated for later this year.

While JD (U), the new partner of NDA, is all set to join the government, the BJP is keen to bring AIADMK in as well.

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