In a dramatic turn following the Lok Sabha election results, which contradicted exit polls and denied a clear majority to the BJP, key allies JDU’s Nitish Kumar and TDP’s N Chandrababu Naidu have reaffirmed their support for the NDA. The leaders are in Delhi for a crucial NDA meeting tonight to strategize the coalition’s next steps.
Despite speculation that the INDIA Opposition bloc, which secured 232 seats, might woo Kumar and Naidu, both leaders have pledged allegiance to the NDA.
Nitish Kumar and N Chandrababu Nadu have asked Caretaker Prime Minister Narendra Modi to form the new government of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) without much delay, according to CNN-News 18.
Both the leaders have reportedly urged Modi to take oath at the earliest on an “auspicious day”, according to the report.
A resolution passed unanimously by NDA leaders earlier today elected Modi as the alliance’s leader. Following this, Modi chaired the outgoing Union cabinet’s final meeting, recommending the dissolution of the 17th Lok Sabha, thereby initiating the process for forming the next government.
Modi, post the cabinet meeting, visited Rashtrapati Bhavan to meet President Droupadi Murmu, tendering his resignation along with his Council of Ministers. The President has accepted the resignation and requested Modi to continue until the new government assumes office, a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique confirmed.
Modi is likely to take oath for a third consecutive term on Saturday, 8 June, after the Lok Sabha elections gave the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) a clear majority. The swearing-in ceremony of the Union Cabinet is also likely to take place the same day.
The BJP emerged victorious with 240 Lok Sabha seats, 32 short of the majority. With TDP and JDU contributing 28 seats, the NDA crosses the majority threshold. However, the coalition’s veterans, Naidu and Kumar, are poised to leverage their support strategically.
Senior JDU leader KC Tyagi, speaking to NDTV, indicated the party’s conditional willingness to join the government if invited, emphasizing the need for Bihar’s special category status and a nationwide caste census. These issues align with the INDIA Opposition bloc’s agenda, hinting at the complexity of the upcoming negotiations.
“Narendra Modi has never opposed a nationwide caste census. Time demands it,” Mr Tyagi stressed.
TDP, on the other hand, remains reserved about its demands. Sources suggest that the party might seek influential ministries, including a preferential status for Andhra Pradesh. The previous fallout between TDP and BJP over the special status demand in 2016 adds a layer of intrigue to the current alliance dynamics.
As Naidu focuses on delivering his electoral promises and securing his son Nara Lokesh’s political future, both JDU and TDP underscore their commitment to NDA while keeping their strategic options open.
JD(U) leaders are reportedly eyeing significant ministries like Railways, Rural Development, and Jal Shakti to address Bihar’s infrastructural and water crises, as per a report in Indian Express. The allocation of these ministries could bolster Bihar’s development, particularly with the upcoming assembly polls.
For now, the political landscape remains fluid, but with Naidu and Kumar at the helm, every possibility is on the table.