NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, JUNE 6
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to take oath for third successive term in office on Sunday, June 9, evening, sources said. BJP-led NDA won a successive third term in office in the results of Lok Sabha elections declared on June 4.
- The Ministry of Home Affairs, Defence, Finance and External Affairs is not likely to be accommodating the allies: BJP sources
- the TDP is seeking four cabinet berths, while the JDU is pushing for three ministers
- Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, with 7 seats, and Chirag Paswan’s LJP, with five seats, each expect two ministries
- Naidu directs TDP MPs to attend NDA meeting in Delhi on Friday
The BJP bagged 240 seats, 32 short of an absolute majority. The support of allies including N. Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP, which has won 16 seats, Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), which has 12 seats and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena (7) and Chirag Paswan’s Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas (5), are crucial for the NDA government.
Sources said PM Modi’s swearing-in ceremony may take place at 6 pm on June 9.
There is no official confirmation yet of the date of the oath-taking ceremony.
The TDP and JD(U) allies have already made their demands aiming at plum posts. Reportedly, the BJP is likely to keep the key ministries and roles to itself.
Based on initial discussions, the allies are demanding one minister for every four MPs. Reportedly, the TDP is seeking four cabinet berths, while the JDU is pushing for three ministers. Additionally, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, with 7 seats, and Chirag Paswan’s LJP, with five seats, each expect two ministries.
Chandrababu Naidu is also eyeing the position of Lok Sabha Speaker, but the BJP appears unwilling to accept this demand. TDP may also demand the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
Reportedly, TDP had sought for Lok Sabha Speaker’s post and six ministerial posts, while JD(U) two key ministerial posts, special status for Bihar and scrapping of the Agniveer scheme.
According to BJP sources, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Defence, Finance and External Affairs is not likely to be accommodating the allies. Even critical portfolios like transport and highways are also likely to be retained by the party.
In the previous two ministries under PM Modi, where the BJP single-handedly crossed the majority mark, the NDA allies could not hold the key Cabinet positions. However, the 2024 results project a hung assembly without a clear majority for the BJP, indicating that the saffron party will likely have to form a Union Ministry based on proportionality.
Led by Nitin Gadkari, the roads and highways across the country have been developed and also fetched much appreciation from the government. It is highly unlikely that the party will compromise with the achieved success so far.
JD(U) spokesperson K.C. Tyagi had demanded the central government revisit its Agniveer scheme that has upset a section of the voters.
“A section of the voters has been upset over Agniveer scheme…Our party wants those shortcomings which have been questioned by the public to be discussed in detail and removed,” said Tyagi.
While on the Uniform Civil Code, Tyagi said that JD(U) was not against it. “CM had written to the Law Commission chief…we are not against it but a solution should be found by talking to all stakeholders,” he said.
TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday directed all party MPs to attend NDA‘s Friday meeting in New Delhi.
“TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday directed the party MPs to attend the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting being organised in New Delhi on Friday,” a press release from the party said.
Naidu held a meeting with the available MPs at his Andhra Pradesh residence in Undavalli around 11.30 am while outstation MPs joined virtually. More than half a dozen MPs attended in person.
