Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is set to gain four portfolios in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s new cabinet, while Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) will secure two, according to sources.
This decision, reached at a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting, comes ahead of the government’s swearing-in ceremony on Sunday.
Three TDP leaders tipped for cabinet positions include Ram Mohan Naidu, Harish Balayogi, and Daggubati Prasad.
The JDU has proposed two senior leaders, Lalan Singh and Ram Nath Thakur. Singh, a Lok Sabha MP from Bihar’s Munger, and Thakur, a Rajya Sabha MP and son of Bharat Ratna recipient Karpoori Thakur, are expected to take on significant roles.
The allocation of cabinet berths is part of the NDA’s strategy after the BJP won 240 seats in the Lok Sabha, falling short of the 272 needed for a majority.
The TDP, having won 16 seats in Andhra Pradesh, sought four portfolios and the parliamentary speaker’s post. The JDU, with 12 seats, requested two cabinet positions.
The NDA’s total of 293 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha marks a notable victory, positioning Prime Minister Modi for his third consecutive term.
This coalition arrangement harks back to pre-2014 dynamics when alliance partners negotiated for positions, a contrast to Modi’s earlier terms with a BJP majority.
Speculation about a potential reunion between Nitish Kumar and the INDIA bloc emerged after the BJP’s seat count became clear.
Senior leaders from the opposition, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, suggested an overture to Kumar.
However, sources close to Kumar dismissed this possibility, emphasizing his break from the bloc over delays in naming him as Convenor.
The coalition talks have been tense, with both sides negotiating ministerial allocations. The BJP leadership was reminded of Kumar’s previous departure from the INDIA bloc, highlighting the delicate balance within the NDA.
Prime Minister Modi’s third term will see him equalling Jawaharlal Nehru’s record, with the swearing-in ceremony set to host leaders from neighboring countries, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, and Mauritius.
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