New Delhi: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said on July 1 his sweeping Cabinet reshuffle and a sharp revamp of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were aimed at strengthening both government and party.

Vajpayee is expected later on July 1 to announce changes in the portfolios of at least a dozen Cabinet ministers, a senior government source said.

Chief among these would be the swapping of the portfolios of Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha and Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh.

The first significant change has already been effected when Vajpayee on June 29 appointed Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani to the re-instituted post of Deputy Prime Minister.

Followed closely thereafter was the removal of BJP president Jana Krishnamurthy to be replaced by Rural Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu.

Speaking at an official ceremony on July 1 at party headquarters in Delhi at which Naidu was inducted as BJP leader, Vajpayee said he believed the changes will "benefit us".

"The changes have been made to strengthen the party and for the smooth working of the government," he said.

"Advani's appointment clears doubts about the line of succession in the BJP after (Vajpayee) and increases his hold on power," political analyst Mahesh Rangarajan said.

Commenting on Advani's elevation to the post of deputy prime minister, Vajpayee said on July 1, "I wish to congratulate the Deputy Prime Minister. He has always helped me and we have worked together. Now he has to share this responsibility."