Who will be in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet?
That’s what everyone is wondering ahead of the Modi’s swearing-in ceremony tomorrow at 7.15 pm.
With the BJP depending on its NDA allies to form the government, negotiations for the plum cabinet posts are on.
The BJP won 240 seats in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, while the TDP won 16 and the JD (U) won 12.
Parliament has 534 seats with 272 needed to form the government.
But who will be the ministers in the Modi 3.0 cabinet?
Let’s take a closer look:
BJP
According to several media reports, the BJP is keen on keeping a number of high-profile ministries including railways, home, finance and defence.
Rajnath Singh is likely to remain defence minister.
Some of the other people who might get a cabinet berth are Pralhad Joshi, Basavaraj Bommai, Govind Karjol, PC Mohan Jitin Prasad, Nityanand Rai, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Sanjay Jaiswal, Prataprao Jadhav, Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Shivraj Singh Chauhan.
Kishan Reddy, Eatala Rajender DK Aruna, D Arvind, Bandi Sanjay, Dharmendra Pradhan, Manmohan Samal, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Dushyant Singh, BJP, Suresh Gopi, Shantanu Thakur, Daggubati Purandeswari, Jitendra Singh, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Sarbananda Sonowal, Bijuli Kalita Medhi, Kiren Rijiju and Biplab Dev might also be in contention for seats.
JDU
Sources told NDTV, the JD(U) will receive two portfolios in the new cabinet.
The party has proposed the names of Lalan Singh and Ram Nath Thakur – both senior leaders.
Singh was elected from Bihar’s Munger Lok Sabha seat.
Thakur, the son of Bharat Ratna receipient Karpoori Thakur, is a Rajya Sabha MP.
However, Mint reported that JDU chief Nitish Kumar will likely ask for five Cabinet posts.
“We are hoping to get at least four Cabinet berths. One more MoS post could be asked for," a JD(U) leader said.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is likely to ask for five cabinet berths. PTI
The leader said the party is eyeing railways, rural development, and water resources departments as “these portfolios will give JD(U) leverage in accelerating development in the state."
The Financial Express reported that Nitish’s JD (U) “plans to leverage the 12 Lok Sabha seats it won to negotiate plum portfolios in the new Cabinet, including the coveted railway ministry.”
JD(U) MP-elect from Sheohar, Lovely Anand told Mint his party should ‘certainly’ be given the railways ministry.
“Yes, it certainly should be given, it has always happened. Bihar should also get special status.”
The Statesman reported that the JD(U) is also eyeing the junior ministership in big ticket ministries like finance.
TDP
News18 and Hindustan Times both reported that the TDP’s Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu will likely join the Modi 3.0 cabinet.
Naidu is a three-time MP from Srikakulam Lok Sabha constituency,
Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, the TDP candidate from Andhra Pradesh’s Guntur constituency, might also make it to the cabinet.
Pemmasani is the wealthiest MP in the Lok Sabha with assets valued at Rs 5,705 crore,
Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy from Nellore is also in contention.
Who will make it to the Modi 3.0 cabinet? These names are being considered© Provided by Firstpost
TDP's Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani owns two Mercedes, one Tesla, and a Rolls Royce. Image courtesy: X
“While Chandrasekhar has tremendous connections among the NRI investors, Prabhakar Reddy is an influential person in the corporate circles. They would be helpful in attracting investments to the state,” a TDP leader told Hindustan Times.
NDTV reported that the TDP, which won the second most seats in the alliance and came roaring back into Andhra Pradesh under Chandrababu Naidu, is seeking four berths within the cabinet.
According to Hindustan Times, Naidu may put forth D Prasada Rao from Chittoor or T Krishna Prasad from Bapatla – both Scheduled Caste MPs – if the party is given four seats in the cabinet.
The party is also eyeing the prestigious post of Speaker of the House.
Shiv Sena
The Statesman reported that the Shiv Sena has demanded a berth for Shrikant Shinde – the son of Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde.
Shrikant Shinde filing his nomination. News18
“Although he is the son of Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, he (Shrikant Shinde) has worked for the people. He has been elected as an MP for the third time… All our leaders are demanding that Shrikant Shinde must get a ministerial position,” Naresh Mhaske, the newly elected MP from Tahne Lok Sabha Seat, told the newspaper.
Shiv Sena is looking for at least two seats in cabinet.
“CM Shinde has pledged support to the BJP. In the past two years, despite having 13 MPs, he has never demanded ministerial berths. But now the Sena leaders are hoping to get at least one cabinet berth and one Minister of States berth in the BJP-led NDA government. Several leaders have expressed this wish to CM Shinde and he is likely to discuss this with the BJP leadership,” a source told the newspaper.
The Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena won seven seats in the Lok Sabha polls.
JSP
The TDP leader added that party state unit president Daggubati Purandeshwari “might get a chance.”
The JSP won two Lok Sabha seats in the recent polls.
It also won all 21 seats it contested in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls.
JD(S)
Mint reported that the JD(S) is keen on the agriculture portfolio in the cabinet.
The JD(S) got two seats in the recent Lok Sabha polls.
LJP
Hindustan Times reported that the LJP led by Chirag Paswan will likely get one seat in the cabinet.
LJP leader Chirag Paswan. File/PTI
“We are assured of one berth. A minister of state would be a huge bonus," a party member told the newspaper on condition of anonymity.
The LJP won five seats in the recent Lok Sabha polls.
RLD
RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary might get a cabinet berth, as per News18.
Adding spice to the matter, a row erupted over Chaudhary not getting a seat on the dais at the NDA meet.
RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary might get a cabinet berth.
"RLD party chief Jayant Chaudhary was not given a place on the stage despite having two seats, whereas leaders of parties with only one seat each were seated on the stage," the Samajwadi Party posted on X.
The party won two seats in Uttar Pradesh.
Apna Dal
Anupriya Patel, Apna Dal Party chief from Mirzapur, might also get a berth as per News18.
The Apna Dal won one seat in the Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh.