News Mania Desk/ Agnibeena Ghosh/9th June 2024
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is strategically working to ensure a stable and efficient union cabinet by accommodating the demands of its allies. According to sources from Zee News, a formula has been devised for the distribution of cabinet positions in the 2024 ministry. This formula suggests that each allied party will receive one cabinet berth for every five MPs and one Minister of State position for every two MPs. Consequently, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), with its 16 MPs, is set to secure three positions in the Union Cabinet, while the Janata Dal (United) or JD(U), with 12 MPs, is likely to get two cabinet posts and one Minister of State position.
Key political figures from Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, namely JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar and TDP’s Chandrababu Naidu, are poised to bring more representation to these states in the central government. In the past, Bihar had five ministers in the central cabinet in 2014, which increased to six in 2019. Following this trend, Bihar is expected to have eight ministers in 2024. Zee News sources indicate that 18 ministerial positions are likely to go to ally parties, with LJP’s Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi being potential candidates for cabinet berths.
There is also a focus on boosting the representation of the Yadav community in the central government, with Nityanand Rai being a notable candidate for this role. The BJP and JD(U) are anticipated to receive an equal number of ministerial positions, each securing three spots in the central cabinet.
The BJP has made it clear that it will retain several key ministries such as Home, Defence, External Affairs, and Finance. However, sources indicate that Nitish Kumar has expressed interest in the Rail Ministry. This strategic allocation of cabinet positions is aimed at maintaining a balanced and efficient governance structure, reflecting the BJP’s commitment to stable coalition politics.
