- TDP to secure four ministerial positions in PM Modi’s new cabinet, with JDU getting two.
- Key TDP leaders likely to be included: Ram Mohan Naidu, Harish Balayogi, and Daggumalla Prasad.
- JDU’s proposed leaders: Lalan Singh and Ram Nath Thakur.
Cabinet Allocations for TDP and JDU in Modi’s Third Term
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to take the oath for his third consecutive term, sources reveal that Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) [JDU] will play significant roles in the new cabinet. The TDP is expected to receive four ministerial portfolios, while the JDU will secure two.
Who Are the Expected Ministers?
TDP Appointments:
- Ram Mohan Naidu
- Harish Balayogi
- Daggumalla Prasad
- An unnamed fourth candidate is still under consideration.
JDU Appointments:
- Lalan Singh – Elected to the Lok Sabha from Bihar’s Munger.
- Ram Nath Thakur – A Rajya Sabha MP and son of Bharat Ratna recipient Karpoori Thakur.
Negotiations and Political Dynamics
The decision was finalized during a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting, as they prepared for the swearing-in ceremony. The TDP had initially sought four portfolios and the post of the parliamentary speaker after securing 16 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh. The JDU, having won 12 seats, requested two cabinet berths.
Kingmakers in Modi’s Third Term
Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar have emerged as crucial allies after the BJP secured 240 seats, falling short of the 272 required for a majority. With the NDA winning a total of 293 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha, Modi’s government secured its position. However, the coalition negotiations evoke memories of pre-2014 politics, where alliance partners haggled for positions and benefits.
Speculations and Strategic Alliances
Rumors of a potential Nitish Kumar-INDIA bloc reunion surfaced after the BJP’s failure to secure an outright majority. Senior INDIA leaders, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, hinted at extending an olive branch to Nitish Kumar. Despite these speculations, sources close to Kumar ruled out the possibility, emphasizing the ongoing negotiations for ministerial berths.
Swearing-In Ceremony
PM Modi will take the oath for his third consecutive term on Sunday, matching the record of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. The ceremony will see the attendance of leaders from neighboring countries, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, and Mauritius.
As the new cabinet takes shape, the strategic appointments of TDP and JDU leaders underscore the importance of coalition dynamics in India’s political landscape.
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