Nearly 15 spots in the Union Council of Ministers could go to NDA allies as the BJP top brass begins discussions with alliance partners ahead of the swearing-in of the Council of Ministers this Sunday.
Senior BJP leaders Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh and party president JP Nadda were enganged in discussions with allies at the latter’s residence on Friday evening. As per sources, the meetings were taking place one-on-one. The first meeting was reportedly held with NCP’s Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel and Sameer Bhujbal, followed by RLD chief Jayant Choudhary.
Sources say the BJP wants to keep the top Raisina Hill ministries of Home, External Affairs, Defence, and Finance with itself, along with some other key ministries like Railways, Road Transport, Law, Information Technology and Education.
The TDP, which is the largest constituency in the NDA with 16 MPs, could get at least three berths in the Council of Ministers, including a cabinet post and two Ministers of State. In 2018, before the TDP had quit the National Democratic Alliance, it had a cabinet minister and a Minister of State in the Narendra Modi government. The TDP then too had 16 MPs, but its importance is far greater this time.
The JD-U similarly could be in the running for three berths, a full cabinet minister position and two Ministers of State. The JD-U had incidentally sought four berths in 2019 when it had won 16 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, but the BJP had not relented and JD-U stayed out of the cabinet. This time, the JD-U has won 12 seats, but like the TDP, it has far more importance this time. The JD-U is said to be eying the coveted Railways Ministry, Agriculture and Rural Development. Nitish Kumar has earlier served as the Union Railways Minister while RCP Singh of the JD-U has served as Minister of Steel.
The Shiv Sena of Eknath Shinde, with seven seats, could also get a cabinet post and a Minister of State berth, while the same could be offered to Chirag Paswan’s LJP which has secured a five-on-five verdict in Bihar. The JD-S, Jana Sena of Pawan Kalyan, and Jayant Chaudhary’s RLD could be offered either a full cabinet minister-ship each or a Minister of State with Independent Charge. The Apna Dal of Anupriya Patel and HAM of Jitin Ram Manjhi, who have won a seat each, could also be in the running for a Minister of State post each.
There may be an MoS or an MoS with Independent Charge post given to Ajit Pawar’s NCP, which has one seat in Maharashtra this time.
BJP president JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be leading the talks with the NDA allies.
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