In the upcoming cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is set to receive four portfolios, while Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] will get two, the NDTV reported.
Among the TDP leaders likely to be included are Ram Mohan Naidu, Harish Balayogi, and Daggubati Prasad. The JD(U) has proposed Lalan Singh and Ram Nath Thakur for their cabinet positions. Lalan Singh represents Bihar’s Munger in the Lok Sabha, and Ram Nath Thakur, a Rajya Sabha MP, is the son of Bharat Ratna recipient Karpoori Thakur.
This decision emerged from a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting held to finalise the cabinet ahead of the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for tomorrow. The TDP, having won 16 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh, had sought four portfolios and the post of parliamentary speaker. The JD(U), with 12 seats, requested two cabinet berths.
The negotiations underscore the influential roles of Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu after the BJP secured 240 seats, falling short of the 272 needed for a majority.
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The NDA, however, achieved a combined total of 293 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha, ensuring a significant victory. Prime Minister Modi will be taking his oath for a third consecutive term on Sunday.
This political scenario recalls the pre-2014 era when coalition partners negotiated for positions and benefits. Speculations about a potential reunion between Nitish Kumar and the INDIA bloc emerged after it was clear the BJP wouldn’t secure 272 seats independently.
While sources close to Kumar dismissed this possibility, they emphasized past delays in his appointment as Convenor of the INDIA bloc.
Prime Minister Modi’s swearing-in ceremony on Sunday will be attended by leaders from several neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, and Mauritius, marking the beginning of his third term, equalling Jawaharlal Nehru’s record.
