The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA)– which won 293 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha election–has initiated preparations to form the government at the Centre for the third consecutive term. NDA partners have unanimously passed a resolution to elect Narendra Modi as the leader of the alliance and hailed the government’s efforts and endeavour in nation-building.
With the election of Narendra Modi as its leader, the alliance has set the stage for his return as Prime Minister for a third consecutive term.
The alliance partners– including Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, LJP (Ram Vilas Paswan) leader Chirag Paswan– met at Prime Minister’s official residence on Wednesday and discussed the modalities for government formation and seat sharing.
While the BJP won 240 Lok Sabha seats of its own, the NDA has bagged 293 seats, comfortably above the majority mark of 272 in the 543-member House, paving the way for Modi to take the oath for a third consecutive term, a first for any ruling alliance since 1962.
Now, the NDA MPs will meet on June 7 to formally elect Modi as their leader and the alliance leaders will then meet the President of India to submit their letters of support, HAM (Secular) leader and former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said after attending the meeting.
The new government may be sworn in over the weekend, sources said, adding that there is a view to wrap up the formalities quickly to not allow any mood of uncertainty to build up, something a buoyant opposition may push. The term of the current Lok Sabha ends on June 16.
Modi has already tendered his resignation along with the Union Council of Ministers after the Union Cabinet recommended the dissolution of the 17th Lok Sabha on Wednesday. He and the Union Council of Ministers will continue in office till the new Government is formed at the request of the President, the Rashtrapati Bhawan said.
There had been speculation of the opposition INDIA bloc, which finished with 232 seats (40 shy of majority) and is exploring a government formation bid, to approach TDP and JD(U)–whose combined 28 seats (TDP-16, JD(U)-12) are needed to ensure the BJP’s coalition stays above water.
To offset that, the BJP has reportedly secured written letters of support from Naidu and Nitish Kumar.
Seat Sharing Talks
As per sources, both Nitish Kumar and Naidu are expected to bargain for crucial positions in the new Union Cabinet.
According to various reports, TDP is negotiating for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker as the chair plays a crucial role given the anti-defection law. The post of the Speaker is likely to protect the alliance partners from any possible split in the future. Additionally, it is being speculated that Naidu might ask for more than two Cabinet berths from the saffron camp.
Meanwhile, JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar is likely to ask for top berths, including agriculture, for his party’s MPs, sources informed. JD(U) reportedly wants two Cabinet berths as the BJP needs the support of its allies to return to power. It is speculated that the Bihar Chief Minister might ask for either Railways, Agriculture or Industries Ministries.
The Janata Dal (Secular), is also eyeing the Agriculture portfolio for HD Kumaraswamy. Apart from this, Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde and Lok Janshakti Party president Chirag Pawan are also asking for one ministry each.
Deliberations In UP, Maharashtra
Meanwhile, the BJP will also hold meetings in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra on Thursday to discuss poll debacles in two of its strongholds.
In UP, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has called a review meeting with top officers of Uttar Pradesh at 10 am. The MahaYuti partners in Maharashtra, including Shiv Sena Chief Eknath Shinde, Nationalist Congress Party supremo Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis from BJP will meet today to discuss the election results and other developments.
What’s INDIA Up To?
With NDA having the majority, the opposition INDIA bloc said it will take appropriate steps at the appropriate time to “realise the people’s desire not to be ruled by the BJP government”.
After nearly two-hour deliberations on Wednesday with other INDIA bloc parties, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said the opposition leaders resolved to continue their fight against the “fascist rule of the BJP led by Modi” even as they thanked the people for their overwhelming support to the bloc.
“We will take appropriate steps at the appropriate time to realise people’s desire not to be ruled by the BJP’s government,” Kharge said while reading out a statement adopted by all the alliance constituents after the deliberations at his residence.
He said the decision has been taken by all constituents of the INDIA bloc in one voice.
The joint statement indicated that the alliance is keeping its options open while choosing not to stake a claim at government formation for now.
The Congress president had convened the meeting to discuss the political situation and the election results, explore any possibility of government formation and whether to reach out to their old partners Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu.
Kharge said that the opposition would continue to work together and would definitely stand by the promises made to the people and keep them.
“The constituents of the INDIA bloc thank the people of India for their overwhelming support. The people’s mandate has been a befitting reply to the BJP and their politics of hate, corruption and deprivation,” Kharge said.
“This is a mandate in defence of the Constitution of India, and against price rise, unemployment and crony capitalism and also to save democracy,” Kharge added while announcing the decision of the alliance partners.
In his opening remarks, Kharge said the alliance welcomes all parties that share its fundamental commitment to the values enshrined in the Preamble to the Constitution and to its many provisions for economic, social and political justice.
Kharge, flanked by former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, NCP (SCP) president Sharad Pawar, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and other leaders including Sharad Pawar, Sitaram Yechury, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Champai Soren, Raghav Chadha, Sanjay Singh, D Raja and Sanjay Raut, said the grouping will continue to fight against the “fascist rule” of the BJP.
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