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Sources said the consultation process which involved mainly three senior ministers -- Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari -- had almost been completed and the new list would be

more or less ready. BJP chief Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi knows the art of keeping the media on tenterhooks. After half a dozen false alarms,

speculation is rife over a fresh date for a reshuffle in Modi's council of ministers. According to the latest murmurs, triggered after a five-hour meeting between Modi and BJP president

Amit Shah, changes in the cabinet and the BJP could take place before the Prime Minister leaves on a four-nation tour on July 6. The monsoon session of Parliament begins on July 18, just a

week before Modi returns from his tour. Party sources said the process could be completed within a week, but refused to divulge any detail. Reports of a reshuffle created a flutter in the

BJP headquarters, but party leaders could throw little light on the matter. Modi and Shah prefer secrecy when it comes to crucial matters, keeping even party leaders and most ministers in

the dark till the last minute. Sources, however, said the consultation process which involved mainly three senior ministers -- Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari -- had almost

been completed and the new list would be more or less ready. However, Rashtrapati Bhavan has not received any message about the reshuffle in the council of ministers so far amidst reports

that 11am on July 4 was an auspicious time. While the media is scouting for any sign of the much-awaited expansion, even preparations for Iftar at the Rashtrapati Bhavan were mistaken for it

being geared up for a reshuffle. A party leader said there was nothing unusual about Modi and Shah having such long meetings as they had several issues concerning the nation to be

discussed. Meanwhile, a consolidated presentation of all ministries, which had been asked to submit their self-appraisal reports, was being made by economic affairs secretary Shaktikanta Das

at a meeting of Council of ministers on Thursday evening. While sources have ruled out major changes either in the government or the organisation, there is a feeling that the party needs to

be strengthened. According to them around six new faces could be inducted into the council of ministers, which had a strength of 70 at present and could be expanded to 81. While there is a

vacancy in the sports and youth affairs with Sarbanand Sonowal moving to Assam as chief minister, minority affairs minister Najma Heptullah could move out as she has crossed the 75 cut off

age. Minister of state for social justice Vijay Sampla, who has been made Punjab BJP chief, could also be replaced. The changes in government could have a fallout on the Organisation, where

there are already some vacancies, including three vice-presidents and two general secretaries. As of now there are ten vice-presidents, seven general secretaries and 16 national secretaries.

If some party office bearers are inducted into government, the vacancies in party would go up further.