JD(U) Likely to Demand Three Cabinet Berths in NDA Government

Patna: The Janata Dal (United) is expected to seek “up to three” cabinet positions in the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, according to a senior leader from Nitish Kumar’s party on Thursday.

With 12 MPs, the JD(U) is the second-largest ally of the BJP, following the Telugu Desam Party’s 16 MPs. The support of allies like the JD(U) and TDP is crucial for the BJP to secure a majority, as the party fell short of the majority mark in the Lok Sabha elections.

“We are now eyeing up to three cabinet berths,” the JD(U) leader stated.

Another prominent party member expressed optimism about obtaining a “respectable” representation in the Union Council of Ministers.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi and our party chief Nitish Kumar will decide the matter of cabinet berths. However, it should be respectable,” said Shrawan Kumar, JD(U) leader and Bihar Rural Development Minister, in an interview with PTI. He also emphasized that the decision should consider the upcoming 2025 Bihar assembly elections.

In 2019, Nitish Kumar declined a “token representation” of just one cabinet berth. According to JD(U) sources, the party is interested in portfolios such as railways, rural development, agriculture, water resources, and heavy industries.

Potential candidates for ministerial positions within the party include Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Jha, Rajiv Ranjan Singh ‘Lalan’, Kaushalendra Kumar, Ramprit Mandal, and Lovely Anand, according to sources.

Earlier, JD(U) leader K C Tyagi informed reporters in New Delhi that the party has called for a review of the Agnipath scheme and will continue to advocate for the caste census issue. He reiterated the party’s unconditional support for the BJP.

“There is no pre-condition; our support is unconditional. However, it is in our mind and heart that Bihar should be granted special status. The challenges Bihar has faced post-bifurcation cannot be addressed without this special status,” Tyagi said.

The BJP secured 240 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha, 32 short of an absolute majority, while the NDA as a whole won 293 seats.