- By Talibuddin Khan
- Thu, 06 Jun 2024 03:14 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Two days have passed since the Lok Sabha Election 2024 results were announced and the BJP is still waiting to stake claim to form the government at the Centre. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu, who accepted it and asked Modi to handle the affairs of the country as a caretaker PM till a new government is formed. Modi is expected to take the oath as the PM of the country on Saturday, for the third consecutive term after the NDA coalition, led by BJP, won a decisive majority in the recently concluded Lok Sabha Election 2024.
Political circles are abuzz with speculations about what the coming days will witness and how far negotiations by the NDA partners will go. Two NDA allies, Telugu Desam Party (TDP), led by Chandrababu Naidu and Janata Dal (United), led by Nitish Kumar, have emerged as the kingmakers as both parties became the second and third largest parties in the NDA coalition after BJP, which failed to cross the majority mark on its own and has been put on the back foot.
The setback to BJP can be attributed to its significant losses in Uttar Pradesh, where its share of seats reduced from 62 in 2019 to 32 in 2024, and Maharashtra, where the INDIA bloc emerged victorious on 30 seats of the total 48. In Rajasthan too, the BJP lost significantly with its seat share reducing from 25 in 2019 to 14 in 2024. Now that the results are out and meetings between the NDA partners are underway, let's look at what portfolios and ministries kingmakers like JDU, TDP and JD(S) are aiming for in the Modi 3.0 cabinet.
Nitish Seeks Two Cabinet Berths For JD(U)
Nitish Kumar's JD(U) which grabbed 12 seats of the 40 in Bihar and emerged as the third largest party in the NDA coalition is expected to bargain for a crucial position in the Modi 3.0 cabinet. According to media reports, Nitish is seeking at least two cabinet berths and one minister of state (MoS) post for his party MPs in the Modi cabinet with many suggesting that Bihar CM's demands include Railways, Agriculture or Industries Ministries. Apart from the Cabinet berths, the JD(U) has also demanded a minimum common programme (CMP) and legal backing for the MSP. The CMP sets the policy, priorities and shared agenda of a coalition government.
"From UP and Rajasthan to Haryana and Punjab, the BJP suffered a loss due to farmers’ anger. It is not just restricted to the Jats only. The farming community is suffering, and it’s time to bail them out by backing the legal demand on MSP," JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said as quoted by The Print.
The JD(U) reportedly also sought a nationwide census, as early as possible, and reiterated the party's long-standing demand to provide special status to Bihar. However, the party has clarified that the support to the NDA is unconditional and that these demands are not prerequisite conditions to join the third NDA government.
"We expect the new government to consider giving special category status to Bihar and conduct a nationwide caste census. Our support is unconditional. But the unemployment in Bihar will not end till Bihar gets special status. So, keeping in mind the support NDA has received from Bihar, we hope there will be an initiative to give Bihar special status," NDTV quoted KC Tyagi as saying.
What TDP Could Demand
According to several media reports, Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is seeking Lok Sabha Speaker's post, which seems to be a move to protect the NDA coalition partners from any possible split in future. It is also reported that Naidu could also raise the issue of providing Special Category Status for Andhra Pradesh, the demand which led to the BJP-TDP split in 2018. Additional funds to develop Amravati as Andhra Pradesh's capital is also on the cards.
Naidu has reportedly also sought funds for the completion of the long-pending Polavaram irrigation project, which was the main agenda of the TDP during the election campaign. Naidu had promised to complete the Polavaram irrigation project in the next two years. According to a report by the Print quoting TDP insider, Naidu could also demand a larger representation in the Modi 3.0 cabinet and the elevation of his son, Nara Lokesh, in central roles.
In terms of ministerial roles, TDP has reportedly sought eight ministerial berths including Road Transport Agriculture, Rural Development, IT & Communications, Health, Education, Housing & Urban Development and Minister of State for Finance. According to a report by CNN-News18, the TDP has not put any demand forward till now and will take "one step at a time".
JD(S), LJP And Shinde Shiv Sena
JD(S) leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy hinted that his party was interested in the Agriculture portfolio of the new NDA Government. "Our party's interest is in the Agriculture department. Our fight since the beginning has been towards doing good for the farming community," Kumaraswamy said, as quoted by PTI.
On his Ministerial aspirations, Kumaraswamy said the NDA leadership will decide. "Let's speak about it when the time comes. Delhi leaders know what is the appropriate decision that needs to be taken for the situation there (in Karnataka). They will decide," he said. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde and Lok Janshakti Party president Chirag Pawan are also asking for one ministry each.
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According to the final results of Lok Sabha polls declared, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is poised to form the government for a third consecutive term with the BJP-led NDA getting a majority in the Lok Sabha. The BJP won 240 seats, falling short of the 272 majority mark and needing the support of allies in the party-led NDA for government formation, a far cry from the 303 and 282 seats it had won in 2019 and 2014, respectively, to have a majority on its own.
