Strategic Alliances Shape Modi’s Third Term: NDA’s Balancing Act of Power
BJP to Retain Key Ministries, Allies to Be ‘Large-Heartedly’ Accommodated in Modi’s New Cabinet
NDA Prepares for Modi’s Third Term: A Blend of Continuity and Alliance
New Delhi: As the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) gears up for Narendra Modi’s third consecutive term as Prime Minister, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to retain the helm of the top four ministries. Party sources revealed on Saturday that while the BJP will hold onto the key ministries of home, finance, defence, and external affairs, it will “large-heartedly” distribute other significant portfolios among its allies to bolster the coalition’s stability.
Approximately 50 ministers are expected to take the oath at the grand ceremony scheduled for Sunday evening at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Among them, around a dozen will represent the NDA allies, reflecting the coalition’s collective strength in the Lok Sabha.
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), led by Chandrababu Naidu and the NDA’s largest ally after the BJP, is anticipated to secure four ministerial berths, including three cabinet positions. The Janata Dal United (JDU), with Nitish Kumar at the helm, is likely to be allotted two cabinet posts and one junior minister role. Notable figures such as Lallan aka Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Ramnath Thakur, and Sanjay Jha are among the probable candidates for ministerial positions.
Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), a key ally from Bihar, along with representatives from the Shiv Sena and the Rashtriya Lok Dal, are also expected to join the ministerial ranks.
Despite the TDP’s initial insistence on the Lok Sabha Speaker’s post, it is believed that the party may settle for a substantial financial package for Andhra Pradesh, as indicated by a BJP general secretary.
The swearing-in ceremony is set to be a significant event, with the presence of various foreign dignitaries underscoring its importance. In a move to highlight the government’s commitment to inclusivity, invites have been extended to tribal women, sanitation workers, transgender individuals, and beneficiaries of welfare schemes. The ceremony will also honor the rat-hole miners who played a crucial role in rescuing trapped workers from a collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand last year.
While the BJP’s performance in the polls fell short of a solo majority, the event is expected to showcase the strength and unity of the NDA government as it embarks on another five-year journey of governance.
