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With the BJP falling short of a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, its allies in the NDA have started intense negotiations for influential cabinet positions. Veteran coalition leaders like N Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar have put forth their demands during the recent NDA meeting, though the details remain undisclosed. Speculation suggests the TDP, having won 16 Lok Sabha seats and the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, may seek five ministerial roles, including a Minister of State for Finance and the Lok Sabha Speaker's post. Other potential portfolios could include Roads, Panchayati Raj, Health, and Education. Meanwhile, the JDU, now with 12 MPs, expects two Cabinet positions and one Minister of State role, likely eyeing the coveted Railways Ministry. The Nitish Kumar-led party may also push for a Common Minimum Programme to guide the new NDA government, along with a coordination committee to oversee its implementation. A Common Minimum Programme serves as a shared agenda for coalition partners.
During Bihari Vajpayee's tenure, the late George Fernandes served as the convener of this committee. According to JDU sources, Nitish Kumar is now the ideal candidate for this position. The JDS, having secured two seats, is likely to push for a central ministerial role for its leader and MP HD Kumaraswamy. HD Devegowda's party has positioned itself as a farmers' party and is eyeing the Agriculture Ministry, it is reported. The BJP may need to accommodate another NDA ally, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, which won seven seats in Maharashtra, as well as Chirag Paswan's LJP, which secured five seats. It remains uncertain whether actor-politician Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena, with two seats, will seek any central role. In the past two Narendra Modi governments, Anupriya Patel, the leader of Apna Dal (Sonelal), has held ministerial positions. This time, her party's tally has decreased from two in 2019 to one. The coming days will reveal whether she retains her ministerial seat. The BJP has won 240 seats, falling 32 short of the majority mark of 272 in the Lok Sabha.
The opposition alliance in India has secured a significant tally, winning 232 seats. In contrast, the ruling party's performance fell short of the majority mark. Yesterday, senior figures from the opposition bloc convened in the capital to chart their next steps and determine the path ahead. Kharge said: “The members of the Indian bloc are grateful to the people of India for the massive support they have received for our alliance. The mission of the people does not deserve the Bharatiya Janata Party and its politics of hate and corruption. He responded to us." is the duty to defend." The India bloc will continue to fight against the Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party to uphold India's constitution, confront rising prices, unemployment and nepotism and take the necessary measures in due course. The desire of the people is that the government will not rule over them, this is our decision, we are all agreed on this matter and fulfill our promise to the people.
