TDP Wants At Least 4 Berths In Modi Cabinet 3.0; Chandrababu Naidu’s Oath As Andhra CM Pushed To June 12: Sources

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which won 16 seats in the Lok Sabha Election 2024, hopes to secure at least four Cabinet berths in the new government, party sources told CNN-News18. Naidu is likely to leave for Delhi early on Friday morning, ahead of Narendra Modi’s third swearing-in as Prime Minister on Saturday.

When Naidu was part of the NDA in 2014, his party was given one cabinet berth and a Minister of State (MoS) portfolio. Sources had earlier said with his 16 seats vital for government formation, Naidu may ask the NDA alliance leader BJP for a bigger share in government. Naidu, whose party also swept the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections, will also hold discussions with the BJP top brass on government formation in the state.

Also part of the tripartite NDA alliance in Andhra Pradesh is actor-politician Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena. The saffron party is also reportedly looking to reward him for the state victory that ousted Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSRCP from power.

The TDP won 16 of the 25 seats in the southern state while its ally BJP won three seats. The YSRCP was brought down to just four Lok Sabha seats in Andra Pradesh.

After taking part in the National Democratic Alliance at the meeting in Narendra Modi’s residence on Wednesday to discuss the formation of the new government, Naidu affirmed that the TDP was with NDA and asked how can they contest elections collectively if not a part of the alliance.

Speaking on the meeting with BJP’s top leadership, Naidu said that the meeting was good.

On being asked about being a part of the NDA, Naidu said, “How can we contest elections if we are not a part of the NDA? We fought this collectively.”

NDA leaders unanimously passed a resolution in the meeting, electing Narendra Modi as their leader.

Chandrababu Naidu’s Oath-Taking On June 12

TDP National Spokesperson Prem Kumar Jain said Chandrababu Naidu’s oath ceremony as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister will be held on June 12 in Amravati. He added that PM-elect Narendra Modi has been invited and other leaders will also come.

Telegu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu-led NDA scored a landslide victory after winning 150 out of 175 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh on June 4 in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.