Photo Credit: The Suncity News
Patna, June 7, 2024: With the political significance of Nitish Kumar and Chirag Paswan rising sharply in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term, both JDU and LJPRV are expected to gain substantial representation in the new Union Cabinet.
According to sources, JDU may secure four ministerial berths, while Chirag Paswan’s party could get two, prompting the BJP to drop some faces from the previous government to accommodate allies.
Nitish Kumar, known for his tough bargaining style, is reportedly eyeing key ministries such as railways and Road Transport & Highway. JDU contested 16 seats in Bihar and BJP 17, but both parties won 12 seats each—making JDU’s strike rate higher and strengthening its negotiating position.
JDU MPs gathered at Nitish Kumar’s residence in New Delhi on Thursday. The party’s parliamentary board will meet at 11:30 am on Friday, where participation in the new Modi government will be a central agenda item.
JDU and LJPRV eyeing key portfolios:
Sources say JDU is seeking four portfolios—three Cabinet ministers and one Minister of State. Apart from Railways and Road Transport & Highway, the party is also interested in the Water Resources Ministry. Nitish Kumar previously held the Railways portfolio during the Vajpayee government and is reportedly keen on returning to it to complete pending projects.
Among the likely JDU picks for the Cabinet are Lalan Singh, Sanjay Jha, and Sunil Kumar Kushwaha, representing the Kushwaha (OBC) community, who may also find a place.
LJPRV pushes for two berths:
Lok Janshakti Party Ram Vilas (LJPRV), which won all five seats it contested, is also staking a claim to two ministries. Chirag Paswan is almost certain to be inducted, and the party has demanded an additional Minister of State.
However, LJPRV chief publicly claimed he has “no demands,” stating that his priority is to ensure Narendra Modi becomes prime minister for a third time.
Besides JDU and LJPRV, other allies in the queue:
Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi, who won the Gaya seat, is also seeking a ministerial berth.
With six ministerial posts likely to go to NDA allies, the BJP will be forced to cut down its own representation in the Cabinet. Many leaders from the previous government may not return.
Faces likely to miss out:
RK Singh lost from Arrah, and Ashwini Choubey was denied a ticket in Buxar. Giriraj Singh and Nityanand Rai have retained their seats but are considered unlikely to be reappointed as ministers.
In the last Modi cabinet, Bihar had four BJP ministers. This time, with allies claiming a larger share, the BJP may get to appoint only two ministers from the state.
Probable BJP picks:
To balance caste representation, the BJP may choose Raj Bhusan Nishad (Muzaffarpur MP), Sanjay Jaiswal (Paschim Champaran MP, former Bihar BJP president), and Radha Mohan Singh (Purvi Champaran MP), who also remain in contention.
As negotiations intensify among NDA partners, Cabinet formation is expected to reflect both political compulsions and Bihar’s altered electoral equations.
Also Read: JDU MLC Neeraj Kumar asked Tejashwi Yadav to reply to the 118 massacres that happened during the RJD government in Bihar.
EOM.