Health minister Harsh Vardhan resigns ahead of Cabinet reshuffle

Union health minister Harsh Vardhan, who was at the helm of India's fight against Covid-19, has quit ahead of a Cabinet reshuffle slated for later today.

The minister's role had come for a criticism from certain quarters as the second wave of the pandemic ravaged the country with record daily spikes in cases and mortality.

Education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has also resigned from the Cabinet. Labour minister Santosh Gangwar has also quit.


PM Modi had reportedly conducted a review meeting of the performance of ministers with BJP President JP Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah.

Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister D V Sadananda Gowda is also among those who have resigned. Others who have quit are Minister of State for Education Sanjay Dhotre, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Debasree Chaudhuri and Minister of State Babul Supriyo.

The reshuffle will be the first in the second term of the Modi government that came to power in May 2018.

New faces are expected to join Modi government with representation being given to diverse set of social groups.