Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu’s parties confer ahead of NDA meeting today
PTC News Desk: According to insiders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will likely announce his intention to create a new coalition government today following a meeting with each of the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) newly elected members. Since the results were announced on Tuesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its alliance partners have been in intensive negotiation mode.
In the 543-member Lok Sabha, the NDA secured 293 seats. The BJP, which had a comfortable majority in the previous two terms, only managed to gain 240 seats, well short of the 272 required to form a government on its own.
N Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP, which has won 16 seats, Nitish Kumar’s JDU (12), Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena (7), and Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas (5) are the four allies whose support is essential for the BJP to secure the majority.
The disorganised collection of regional parties is attempting to use their increased power to demand ministerial jobs. Sources claim that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is vying for five cabinet positions, including parliamentary speaker.
According to reports, Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) is also eager to take on two significant portfolios: rural development and railroads.
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Ahead of today’s NDA meeting, two coalition era veterans, N Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar, are holding talks with their respective party leaders.
But when it comes to the four important ministries that are under the purview of the Cabinet Committee on Security—defense, finance, home affairs, and external affairs—the BJP is not keen on making accommodations for friends.
According to reports, the BJP will also be reluctant to give up positions related to its social program or infrastructure drive, such as highways and road transportation.
The coalition talks are reminiscent of a time before 2014, when PM Modi won an absolute majority of the BJP and alliance partners fought for seats and perks.
Today’s NDA meeting, which PM Modi will preside over, will see him formally elected as its leader. Later on Friday, he is expected to meet President Droupadi Murmu in order to assert his right to form a government.
On Sunday night, in a formal ceremony, he will take the oath.