Home, Defence with BJP, Railways with JD(U), Health with TDP? What Modi 3.0 Cabinet could look like

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has set the ball rolling for the new government formation. The bloc will return to power for a third consecutive term after it crossed the ‘magic mark’ of 272 by winning 293 of the 543 Lok Sabha seats.

However, the voters denied a majority to the BJP this time, which had to contend with its 240 seats in the lower house of Parliament. Despite being the single-largest party, the saffron party is relying on its NDA allies to stake a claim to form the government, bringing back the era of coalition politics.

And its allies know their importance well. The top NDA partners, including Nitish Kumar of the Janata Dal (United) and N Chandrababu Naidu of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), are speculated to demand a bigger share of the pie in return for their support.

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If reports are true, they have already set their sights on some key ministerial berths in the Union Cabinet. With Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony as India’s prime minister expected over the weekend, hectic parlays are in the offing between the NDA allies.

What can the BJP’s NDA allies get? Which ministries are the saffron party unlikely to depart with? Let’s understand.

What could JD(U), TDP demand?

The new Railways minister could be from a non-BJP party as JD(U) is expected to push hard for the post.

Bihar chief minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar was present at the NDA meeting on Wednesday (5 June), where the bloc “unanimously” chose Modi as its leader.

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According to Indian Express sources, the party, which won 12 out of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, is keen on Railways, Rural Development, Jal Shakti, Transport and Agriculture ministries.

“Nitish has held railways, agriculture and transport portfolios in the NDA government. We want our MPs to take up departments that can help develop the state. Jal Shakti is crucial in the context of Bihar facing a water crisis alongside challenges of a receding water table and flooding. We could also give a push to interlinking of river projects,” a JD(U) leader told the newspaper.

Nitish Kumar had served as the Railways minister in the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in the late 1990s.

JD(U) reportedly wants about four to five Cabinet berths and two minister of state (MoS) posts.

As per the Indian Express, several Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs from JD(U) are in the race to potentially be a part of the Union Council of Ministers. These include Munger MP Lalan Singh, Jhanjharpur MP Rampreet Mandal, and Valmiki Nagar MP Sunil Kumar.

Naidu’s TDP, which is poised to form the government in Andhra Pradesh with allies BJP and Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena Party (JSP), has demanded five ministerial berths, including a MoS post for Finance, reported NDTV.

Honoring the mandate given by the people of our country, all NDA partners unanimously endorsed Shri @narendramodi Ji as our coalition leader at a meeting held in Delhi today. Under his able leadership, we shall all strive to ensure that our country continues to prosper and emerge… pic.twitter.com/qv7tXrglfe

— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) June 5, 2024

It has also set eyes on portfolios like Roads, Panchayati Raj, Health and Education. TDP has greater bargaining power with the BJP at the Centre after it made a remarkable comeback in Andhra – both in Assembly and Lok Sabha polls.

In fact, the TDP is the second largest party among NDA allies after the BJP, with 16 seats.

Sources told The Telegraph that Naidu’s party is hankering for the plum home and defence portfolios. While Amit Shah was the home minister, Rajnath Singh held the defence ministry in the outgoing Modi government.

One report says TDP’s wishlist also includes the shipping and ports ministry.

As per Financial Express, Naidu is seeking a Cabinet berth for his son, Nara Lokesh, who won the Assembly election from Mangalagiri constituency in Andhra.

Both JD(U) and TDP are also reportedly after the post of Speaker of the Lok Sabha, with Naidu’s party firm on this demand.

In 2014, the TDP got one Cabinet post and a junior minister’s berth in the first Modi government at the Centre. However, it wants more now to help BJP return to power for a third time.

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What about other NDA allies?

The Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde bagged seven Lok Sabha seats. As per India Today sources, it wants one Cabinet and two MoS berths in the Modi government.

Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party(Ram Vilas) could ask for the Railways ministry. His party, which won all five Lok Sabha seats it contested in Bihar, has been promised one position in the Union Cabinet and might also get a MoS post, as per Hindustan Times (HT). Chirag is expected to become a Union minister.

The Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy has indicated interest in becoming the next agriculture minister. “I am interested in the agriculture portfolio. But let us see what happens. BJP leaders at the national-level have a better idea what to do in the interest of the state and the ministries will be decided based on that,” he was quoted as saying by Deccan Herald (DH).

The JD(S) won two Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka, while its ally BJP got 17 out of the total 28 seats in the state.

Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) is reportedly seeking a ministry or Cabinet rank berth for its founder Jitan Ram Manjhi, who won the Lok Sabha election from Bihar’s Gaya.

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Which plum portfolios could the BJP keep?

The BJP is unlikely to relent when it comes to important ministerial berths.

According to The New Indian Express (TNIE) sources, the saffron party would not part with six crucial ministries, including Railways, Home, Finance, Defence, Law and Information Technology (IT).

“In the coming days, as the PM hinted in his pot-poll address, big-ticket decisions will be taken. The role of the home ministry will be crucial in facilitating the implementation of some decisions. The ministerial berth demands of the allies will be considered barring these six ministries,” a senior BJP leader told the newspaper.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) could also remain with the BJP, reports say.

As per TNIE, seven Independents and three MPs from smaller parties have extended support to the saffron party, taking the NDA tally to 303 in the Lok Sabha.

A meeting of elected MPs of the NDA is due on 7 June. It is expected the bloc’s allies will put forward their demand then. Until then, we will have to wait to find out who will get what.

With inputs from agencies