New Delhi: In Prime Minister Narendra Modis upcoming cabinet, Chandrababu Naidus Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is set to receive four ministerial positions, while Nitish Kumars Janata Dal (United) will be allotted two, according to sources. Among the TDP nominees likely to join the cabinet are Ram Mohan Naidu, Harish Balayogi, and Daggumalla Prasad.JD(U) has proposed two senior leaders for ministerial roles: Lalan Singh, a Lok Sabha member from Bihars Munger, and Ram Nath Thakur, a Rajya Sabha MP and son of Bharat Ratna recipient Karpoori Thakur.The allocation decisions were made during a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting held to finalize cabinet positions ahead of the governments swearing-in ceremony scheduled for tomorrow.Demands and negotiations The TDP, having won 16 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh, had requested four ministerial portfolios and the post of parliamentary speaker. Similarly, JD(U) sought two cabinet berths after securing 12 seats in the election.Both Kumar and Naidu emerged as pivotal figures after the BJP secured only 240 seats, falling short of the 272 required for a majority. The NDA, however, achieved a total of 293 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha, allowing Prime Minister Modi to prepare for his third consecutive term, with the oath-taking ceremony set for Sunday.Coalition dynamics resurfaceThis phase of coalition negotiations marks a return to pre-2014 dynamics, where alliance partners engaged in intense negotiations for positions and benefits. This contrasts with the period following PM Modis outright majority win in 2014, which allowed the BJP to govern without such dependencies.On Tuesday evening, speculation arose regarding a potential reunion between Nitish Kumar and the INDIA bloc, particularly after it became evident that the BJP would not reach the 272-seat mark independently. Senior INDIA leaders, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, hinted at extending an olive branch to Kumar.However, sources close to Nitish Kumar dismissed this possibility on Thursday, albeit with a caveat. Amidst ongoing talks over ministerial allocations, BJP leadership was reminded that Kumar had previously exited the INDIA bloc due to delays in being named its Convenor.PM Modi to swear-in for the third timePrime Minister Modis swearing-in ceremony, set for Sunday, will mark his third consecutive term, matching the record of Indias first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Leaders from several neighboring countries, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, and Mauritius, are expected to attend the event.
