BJP To Yield Key Ministries, Lok Sabha Speakership To NDA Allies? Intense Negotiations Underway As Modi Set For Third Term As PM

With the BJP missing the majority mark in the Lok Sabha, its allies within the NDA have started pressing hard for key ministerial positions.

TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and JDU's Nitish Kumar reportedly outlined their demands during an NDA meeting yesterday.

While no official details have been released of the demands by the two leaders, intense negotiations are ongoing, NDTV reported citing sources.

Naidu's TDP, which won 16 Lok Sabha seats and dominated the Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls, is said to be seeking five ministerial posts, including a Minister of State for Finance, and the Lok Sabha Speaker's role.

The party is also said to be interested in the portfolios of Roads, Panchayati Raj, Health, and Education.

The JDU, now with 12 MPs in the Lok Sabha, is reportedly expecting two Cabinet berths and one MoS position.

The Railways Minister post is reportedly a top priority for the Nitish Kumar-led party.

Additionally, the JDU may advocate for a Common Minimum Programme for the new NDA government and a coordination committee to ensure its implementation.

During the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, George Fernandes was the convenor of this committee.

The party, led by H D Deve Gowda, has positioned itself as a farmers' advocate and is reportedly interested in the Agriculture Ministry.

Other NDA allies the BJP might need to accommodate include the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, which won seven seats in Maharashtra, and Chirag Paswan's LJP, with five seats.

It remains uncertain if Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena, which won two seats, will pursue any central role.

Anupriya Patel of Apna Dal (Sonelal), who secured ministerial roles in the previous two Modi governments, now faces uncertainty as her party's tally has reduced from two seats in 2019 to one.

The coming days will determine if she retains her ministerial position.

The BJP has secured 240 seats, falling 32 short of the 272 majority mark in the Lok Sabha.

With TDP and JDU collectively holding 28 seats, and support from other NDA allies, the coalition is expected to surpass the majority threshold.

PM Modi is likely to take oath of the office on Saturday (8 June).

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