Speculations are rife regarding the distribution of ministerial berths as the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) looks to form government for a third consecutive term. With the BJP falling well short of the majority mark of 272, Modi is dependent on his NDA allies to form the government.
As N Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party and Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United won a significant number of seats in their respective turfs, it is obvious that the two seasoned leaders would demand important cabinet berths for their respective MPs. Then there are other smaller partners like Chirag Paswan and J Kumaraswamy, who are also likely to demand ministerial positions.
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As things stand, here is all the information that we know so far as BJP's cabinet berth talks with its NDA allies:
TDP: Chandrababu Naidu, who wrested power in Andhra Pradesh from incumbent YSRCP, have raised a claim for five ministerial berths. The TDP, who has 16 MPs, has also demanded the Lok Sabha's Speaker's post, reports said. Ministries of Education, Health, Road Transport and Highways are the portfolios Naidu has set his eyes on along with a MoS post, reports said.
Naidu is keen for the Centre to provide Andhra Pradesh financial assistance in building its capital in Amravati. He also wants the new government to take steps to fulfil the Centre's commitment to the state when Telangana was carved out of it, news agency PTI reported.
JDU: The Bihar Chief Minister, another hard bargainer, expects two Cabinet berths and one MoS role for his 12 MPs, NDTV said in a report. Nitish Kumar has reportedly prioritised Railways, Agriculture and Rural Development Ministries.
JD(S): The other Janata party, from the south, managed to send two members to the Lok Sabha including its chief HD Kumaraswamy. With the image of being a party representing the agrarian masses, JD(S) is likely to ask the Agriculture Minister's chair for HDK, multiple reports claim.
As things stand, there are rumours whether other key NDA allies like Chirag Paswan's LJP from Bihar and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction of Maharashtra have raised claims for any key portfolios or not. However, reports suggest that Shinde is likely to push senior MPs of his party over his son Shrikant Shinde to be considered for ministerial roles. Paswan, meanwhile has maintaied that his party's support to Modi is unconditional.
Earlier reports had claimed that the BJP was unlikely to hand the seats of Defence and Finance Ministers to any of its allies.