Today in Politics: PM Modi in Odisha amid speculation of BJP-BJD reunion, Yogi to expand UP Cabinet

As he continues on his tour of states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a rally on Tuesday in Sangareddy, about 60 km from Hyderabad. He will also inaugurate and lay the foundation for development projects worth more than Rs 6,800 crore. The PM will inaugurate, among other things, the Civil Aviation Research Organisation centre in Hyderabad to upgrade and enhance research and development activities in the civil aviation sector.

He will then travel to Odisha where he will lay the foundation stone for an eight-lane expansion project of a Paradeep-Duburi road and inaugurate 19 projects worth Rs 20,000 crore in the presence of Governor Raghubar Das, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Dharmendra Pradhan, Hardeep Singh Puri and Ashwini Vaishnaw.

In context: Modi’s visit to Odisha assumes significance as it comes amid a buzz about a BJP-BJD reunion while his visit to the south is being seen as part of the BJP’s push to make inroads in the southern states, where the party is perceived to be weak, especially in light of its ambitious target of winning 370 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

As Sujit Bisoyi reported last week the visit comes at a time when there are rumours of the two former allies joining hands again. “The timing of PM Modi’s visit to Odisha is significant. March 5 will mark the 108th birth anniversary of Odisha icon and former chief minister late Biju Patnaik, the father of BJD supremo and current CM Naveen Patnaik,” Sujit wrote. What signals Modi sends out on Tuesday will be closely tracked.

Who will find space in the Yogi Cabinet?

With the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) now formally part of the NDA, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath will expand his Cabinet on Tuesday to