Indian cabinet gets makeover

Former BJP president Krishnamurthy was sworn into the cabinet on Monday

NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has made a sweeping reshuffle of his cabinet in a bid to strengthen the ruling coalition ahead of state elections next year.

It is the seventh and largest shake-up since Vajpayee took office in 1999 and the changes are being seen as a bid to boost the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following poor performances at a string of state polls.

Four new faces and nine junior ministers were sworn into the cabinet on Monday, though their portfolios were not immediately announced.

The most significant appointment had already been made when Home Minister L. K. Advani was given the re-instituted post of deputy prime minister on Saturday.

Among the other major changes announced on Monday, Jaswant Singh, External Affairs (Foreign) Minister traded jobs with the Minister of Finance, Yashwant Sinha.

Advani followers

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K. Jana Krishnamurthy, the former president of the BJP, is among the new cabinet ministers. After resigning from the BJP presidency, he was replaced by the younger and more right wing rural development minister Venkaiah Naidu -- an Advani supporter.

The oath of office was also given to Balasaheb Vikhe Patil from the Hindu nationalist Shiv Sena party, and Sahib Singh Verma and Shatrughan Sinha, from the BJP.

Sinha -- a BJP stalwart from eastern India and a former Bollywood action star -- is considered a surprise introduction into the cabinet, while Patil is viewed as a close Advani follower.

"The changes have been made to strengthen the party and for the smooth working of the government," Vajpayee said at an official ceremony at BJP headquarters before the swearing-in.

Critics within the BJP say the party's recent electoral misfortune is due to a shift away from its hardline Hindu position triggered by its coalition with a number of the 20 other coalition partners.

Hardline faction

Vajpayee (L) with Advani

The appointment of Advani, analysts say, is an assertion of the hardline faction within the BJP. It also shows that the home minister is being groomed to succeed Vajpayee at general elections in 2004, they say.

Advani, known for his hardline views, came to national prominence more than a decade ago on a program of national Hindu resurgence. He is also known to have a tougher stance with India's nuclear foe, Pakistan.

Both of these views are in direct contrast to Vajpayee who is seen as more of a moderate.

Advani's appointment also comes at a time when questions are being asked about the health of the prime minister. Advani is two years younger than Vajpayee but noticeably much fitter than the prime minister.

By his own admission, Advani has been assisting Vajpayee with many of the prime ministerial duties.

Insiders say Advani's appointment is a formalization of an existing arrangement that also makes clear the line of succession should Vajpayee step down as prime minister.

The governing party and its 20 coalition partners have lost a string of state elections, and another 10 states are to choose legislatures next year.