New Delhi: Its official, the third cabinet expansion of the Prime Minister Modi led NDA government will take place on Sunday at 10 am. It comes about 20 months before LokSabha elections are due in 2019 with this announcement, speculation around a reshuffle has been laid to rest.

The new team will be in place before Prime Minister Modi leaves on a two nation tour to China for the BRICS Summit and Myanmar on a state visit. Word has it that about a dozen ministers will take oath at the RashtrapatiBhawan.

While the selection of new ministers will be decided based on their governance track record and qualifications. Political realities, regional and social influences may also play an important part with Assembly polls around the corner.

Meanwhile, a few ministers have already put in their papers to allow the Prime Minister to make changes in his cabinet. Rajiv Pratap Rudy has said he will be working for the party organization while MahendraNathPandey has been made the head of the UP State BJP.

It is clear that some of those who have resigned will be given party posts. But it remains to be seen whether key orgainsational posts within the BJP are also likely to change with the possibility of some important faces from the party orgainzation become faces of the cabinet.

Analysts believe that strengthening the Party organization before important elections is a key factor behind the cabinet reshuffle.

There are also many posts vacant in the Union cabinet, with ministers like ArunJaitley and Harsh Vardhan holding additional charge. Two important posts fell vacant with Defense Minister ManoharParrikar moving to Goa as the Chief Minister, and Venkaiah Naidu being elected as Vice-President of India.

The Environment Ministry became vacant after the demise of Anil Madhav Dave. Overall, the goal of this expansion is to strengthen both the government and the Party organization. The PM wants to increase the pace of development and good governance with a new team.