Thursday, June 6, 2024

Five Naga leaders including Rio likely to attend NDA meet :::: Chandrababu, Nitish bargaining for portfolios with Modi may turn ugly


TDP (16 MPs), JDU (12), Shiv Sena-Shinde (7), LJP-RV (5), JDS (2), JSP (2), RLD (2), HAM (1), NCP-Ajit (1), Apna Dal (1), UPPL(1), AGP (1), SKM (1) and AJSU (1) are part of the NDA. 

With BJP’s tally of 240 seats, the NDA has a strength of 293 in the Lok Sabha. 

The majority mark is 272 seats.   


Back in power after a gap of five years, during which he personally faced tough challenges, Naidu is not ready to take any risk by leaving the NDA, which he had re-joined just ahead of the elections.


The 74-year-old will be looking for strong bonding with the NDA to bail out the state, which is facing a financial crunch.


By aligning himself closely with PM Modi and his team of ministers, he will be looking to leverage their support and cooperation for the state, which remains without a state capital even after 10 years.


Naidu, who is set to become the Chief Minister for a fourth time, may also seek liberal assistance from the Centre to tide over the financial crisis and to implement the welfare schemes promised by him in the run-up to the elections.



Ten Independents and MPs from smaller parties are likely to support the incoming Modi government. 


Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and four other Naga leaders are likely to attend the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting in the national capital on Friday.





The meeting has been convened at 1100 hours in Parliament premises, sources said.  Besides Rio, BJP national vice president M Chuba Ao is already in Delhi for the meeting.

Sources said Deputy CM Y Patton, who is BJP floor leader in Nagaland assembly and the state unit president Benjamin Yepthomi are also likely to attend.

Incumbent Rajya Sabha MP of BJP, Ms Phangnon Konyak is also likely to attend.


According to sources, all newly elected Lok Sabha MPs from BJP and other NDA parties. Rajya Sabha MPs of BJP and other NDA parties,  CMs and deputy CMs of BJP, floor leaders in state assemblies, BJP national Office bearers and all state BJP Presidents have been invited for the same.


In Meghalaya, Conrad Sangma-led NPP is NDA constituent and like NDPP; his party too was humbled in both the seats in the state in the just concluded parliamentary polls.








 With the BJP securing 240 seats, 32 short of the halfway mark, the role of JD-U of Nitish Kumar and N Chandraabu Naidu-led TDP have become crucial for Modi 3.0. 

Together, the TDP, JDU, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde), and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) command 40 MPs and the bargaining has reached feverish pitch and could even turn ugly. 


In the previous two ministries under PM Modi, where the BJP on its own crossed the majority mark, the NDA allies could not hold the key Cabinet positions. 



However, the 2024 results project a hung parliament though NDA as a pre-poll alliance is comfortable. However, it is unlikely that the BJP will compromise on the core ministries especially the big four - Home, Defence, Finance and  External Affairs. 


But there are some reports of 'pressure tactics' turning bitter. 


Both Naidu and Nitish Kumar reportedly want 1 Minister for every four ministers --- that way with 12 MPs JD-U is eyeing three cabinet berths and Naidu with 16 MPs think he should get four cabinet berths.



The TDP supremo, who had displayed enough coolness and maturity during the Vajpayee era when he supported the Vajpayee government, is reportedly eyeing portfolios like Finance and Road Transport and Highways.  For his part, Nitish who was himself Railway Minister under Vajpayee wants the same portfolio for his party. 


Both the TDP and the JD-U also want special status for Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. This demand was raised earlier. Eleven states have Special category status. 


Nitish Kumar is keen to push for a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) for the NDA government or Modi 3.0.  JD-U also wants review of new military recruitment scheme - Agniveer


All these are complicating things before formation of the Modi 3.0 even as arrangements are being made for the swearing in of the new ministry on June 9th, Sunday. There are also reports that the Modi government has able to enlist the support of 10 Independents and smaller parties MPs. 


If true, this would take NDA tally now to 303.


ends 


No comments:

Post a Comment

Democracy might be a cherished ... and highly appreciated political doctrine ... but Singapore is an example that Good Leadership and hard work often counts 'better'

Lee Kuan Yew often referred to by his initials LKY was first prime minister of Singapore from 1959 to 1990.  Born 16 September 1923, he expi...