ABSTRACT
The reshuffle was aimed at reinforcing Central authority and overcoming separatism and parochialism in the provinces. Thus, the reshuffle sought to weaken the regional military leaders' power and influence, to strengthen political control over the army and to assert the Central Party and civilian leadership over the provinces and the regional military bosses. The transfer of commanders from their military and political bases, built up assiduously over a number of years, was obviously intended to reduce their over-all political influence. With a view to curb the power of the regional commanders, the Central Party leadership had sought to consolidate its base by seeking common ground between the moderate and radical wings of the Party and by emphasizing the need for rebuilding the Party. In many cases, the political power of the military commanders was sought to be curtailed by the presence of civilian First Political Commissars who held senior positions in the Central or Provincial Party hierarchy.
