As Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to take office for a third consecutive term, significant attention is focused on the composition of his new cabinet. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured 293 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, allowing Modi to form the government, albeit with the support of key allies. The swearing-in ceremony for Modi and his cabinet is expected to take place on June 8, 2024.
Tomorrow evening, Prime Minister Modi, along with members of his newly appointed government, will take their oaths of office. From the time of Congress stalwart Jawaharlal Nehru, he will be the first Prime Minister to serve for three consecutive terms.
The city of New Delhi? Today, the newly elected members of parliament (MPs) of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will hold a vital meeting in order to finalize the list of cabinet ministers. This meeting will take place in advance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inauguration onto his third straight term in office.
At a magnificent ceremony that will take place tomorrow evening, Prime Minister Modi, along with members of his new government, will take their oaths of office. From the time of Congress stalwart Jawaharlal Nehru, he will be the first Prime Minister to serve for three consecutive terms.
Despite winning 240 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) could not achieve the majority threshold by 32 seats. 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 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to achieve its goal of achieving a majority victory.
Yesterday, the suggestion to nominate Mr. Modi as the alliance’s prime ministerial candidate was openly endorsed by the leaders of the TDP, Chandrababu Naidu, and the JDU, Nitish Kumar. Both of these individuals have emerged as kingmakers at this vital time.
Following rumors that opposition leaders could approach them in an effort to lay a claim, it has been learned that they have also provided written support to Prime Minister Modi.
At this moment, the focus is on the negotiations that are taking place between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its two most important allies, the TDP and the JD(U), both of which are competing for prominent positions at the Centre.
Additional candidates for crucial portfolios in the new cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi include the Shiv Sena group led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the LJP led by Chirag Paswan.
In the meantime, the INDIA alliance defied exit pollsters to mount a meaningful challenge to the BJP in a national election. This was the first time that the BJP has faced a genuine challenge to its rule since the ‘Modi wave’ swept it to power in 2014.
At the end of the election, the opposition alliance received 232 seats, which was forty seats shy of the 272-majority threshold.
During this election, the Congress party, which led the opposition bloc in India, finished with 99 victories out of the 328 seats that it battled for.
Key Cabinet Contenders and Ministry Demands
Several prominent leaders from BJP’s allied parties are vying for crucial positions in the new cabinet, and the allocation of ministries is a topic of intense negotiation:
Telugu Desam Party (TDP)
TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, having played a pivotal role in the alliance, is reportedly aiming for the position of Lok Sabha Speaker. Additionally, Naidu is seeking seven to eight cabinet berths and one Minister of State (MoS) position for portfolios such as Road Transport, Rural Development, Health, Housing & Urban Affairs, Agriculture, Jal Shakti, IT & Communications, Education, and Finance (MoS).
Janata Dal (United) (JD(U))
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, often referred to as a kingmaker, is expected to demand at least three cabinet positions for his party. The JD(U) secured 12 out of 40 seats in Bihar, reinforcing its significance within the NDA.
Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) (LJP)
Chirag Paswan, leading the LJP (Ram Vilas), is likely to push for one cabinet post and one MoS position. The LJP performed strongly in Bihar, winning all five contested seats.
Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S))
Former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy of JD(S) is interested in securing the Agriculture portfolio. The BJP-JD(S) alliance in Karnataka won 19 out of 28 seats, highlighting their significant influence in the state.
Shiv Sena (Shinde faction)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s faction of the Shiv Sena has requested one cabinet and two MoS berths. This faction is part of the broader Mahayuti alliance which, along with the BJP and NCP (Ajit Pawar), won 17 seats in Maharashtra.
BJP’s Strategy and Focus Areas
The Modi 3.0 government has outlined ambitious plans and priorities, emphasizing economic growth and governance reforms. Key focus areas for the initial 100 days include:
Economic Reforms
The government aims to accelerate India’s growth towards becoming a USD 5 trillion economy by 2027-28 and achieving developed nation status by 2047.This includes proposed changes to income tax slabs to provide relief to taxpayers and a simplification of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) system to streamline tax rates and reduce the highest 28% slab.
Digital Expansion
Expanding the footprint of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is another priority. The government plans to enhance digital payment systems domestically and push for UPI’s adoption internationally.
This is part of a broader effort to promote a cashless economy and integrate more citizens into the digital financial ecosystem.
Strengthening Enforcement Agencies
To combat corruption and attract foreign direct investment (FDI), the Modi administration plans to empower enforcement agencies and implement stricter regulations against major loan defaulters. This approach aims to address policy paralysis and improve the business environment in India.
The formation of Modi’s third cabinet will reflect a balance between BJP’s internal dynamics and the demands of its coalition partners.
Both Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal United (JDU) and Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) have emerged as critical actors in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and have sought important places in the Union Cabinet.
Both parties have established themselves as major players in the NDA. According to reports, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reportedly established its ownership over key ministries, including defense, finance, home affairs, and foreign affairs. However, the BJP may not easily yield some major positions to its partners.
Both the TDP and the JDU, who now possess 16 and 12 seats, respectively, are reportedly looking to secure their preferred ministries, as stated by sources. The early conversations have led to the allies’ demand that there be one minister for every four members of parliament.
It has been reported that the TDP is lobbying for four cabinet vacancies, and the JDU is attempting to secure three ministerial positions. Moreover, the Shiv Sena, which is led by Eknath Shinde and has seven seats, and the LJP, which is led by Chirag Paswan and has five seats, each anticipate having two ministries.
The NDA allies were unable to hold the important Cabinet positions in the two ministries that came before the one under Prime Minister Modi. In both of these ministries, the BJP was able to surpass the majority threshold on its own.
It is anticipated that the outcomes of the 2024 election will result in a hung assembly, which means that the BJP will not have a clear majority. This indicates that the saffron party will most likely be required to establish a Union Ministry determined by proportionality.
In addition, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) asserts that it has implemented significant reforms in the areas of railways and road transport, among other areas, during the time that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was in power.
The BJP is adamant that it does not wish to slow down the pace of changes by distributing them to its allies. Traditionally, the Railways have been held by allies; however, the BJP has made a significant amount of effort to bring it back under their control, as insiders have pointed out.
There is a possibility that the BJP may make the decision to hand over the Panchayati Raj and Rural Development ministries to the JDU, while the TDP may be granted portfolios such as Civil Aviation and Steel. It is possible for Shiv Sena to be handed the responsibility of Heavy Industries.
The individuals who are close to the discussions have stated that NDA allies have the potential to be nominated as Ministers of State in critical ministries such as Finance and Defense.
It is likely that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will want to retain the ministries that deal with infrastructure development, welfare, youth affairs, and agriculture in addition to the ministries that deal with defense, finance, home affairs, and foreign affairs.
The poor, women, young people, and farmers are the four most important voting groups, and these portfolios are absolutely necessary for the implementation of the initiatives for them.
This would lead to a Council of Ministers in which the number of ministers representing the BJP would fall while the number of ministers representing allies would increase. Nevertheless, it is quite improbable that the BJP will make any concessions regarding the major ministries.
Additionally, there is the chance that other ministries, including as tourism, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSME), skill development, research and technology, earth sciences, and social justice and empowerment, will be transferred to the allies.
If Chandrababu Naidu continues to insist on being appointed as Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) can try to persuade him by offering him the job of Deputy Speaker
The strategic allocation of ministries will not only secure the support of key allies but also position the government to address pressing economic and governance challenges. As the political landscape evolves, the effectiveness of these appointments will be critical in shaping India’s trajectory over the next five years.