Shiv Sena (7) and LJP (5) have each been offered a Cabinet berth.
RLD (2 MPs) chief Jayant Chaudhary is expected to be part of the Cabinet.
Although the BJP brass is keen to accommodate Pawan Kalyan, founder of Jana Sena (2), it's not clear whether the willingness will extend to his colleagues if the Telugu cine star refuses to shift to Delhi.
Though only 34, Naidu, son of former Cabinet minister, the late Yerran Naidu, and nephew of TDP's AP unit chief Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, is seen as a rising OBC face.
Besides chief minister Nitish Kumar's trust, he also enjoys goodwill in BJP for the role he played in facilitating JD(U)'s return to NDA.For the junior minister berth, JD(U) is likely to consider someone from the MBC bloc, an important constituency for the party.
Top Picks For You Narendra Modi set to take oath as prime minister for historic third term
Modi may be keen to rope in Chirag; several new faces from BJP also likely
NEW DELHI: As the buzz about allies seeking to secure a higher share of berths and high-profile portfolios in Modi 3.0 govt persisted on Saturday, there were indications of the BJP leadership asking NDA partners to 'pare down' their demands to 'reasonable limits' while assuring that unfulfilled desires may be given due consideration at an appropriate time later.Sources said none of the crucial ministries, including the four represented on the Cabinet committee on security - home, defence, finance and external affairs - are on the table. BJP is also likely to keep education, parliamentary affairs, culture and I&B, while ensuring that the Speaker is from its own ranks.Allies may have representation of 12-15 ministers and talks are also under way with Shiromani Akali Dal.TDP (16 MPs) and JD-U (12) have been asked to settle for a Cabinet berth and a junior minister slot. Shiv Sena (7) and LJP (5) have each been offered a Cabinet berth. RLD (2 MPs) chief Jayant Chaudhary is expected to be part of the Cabinet. Although the BJP brass is keen to accommodate Pawan Kalyan, founder of Jana Sena (2), it's not clear whether the willingness will extend to his colleagues if the Telugu cine star refuses to shift to Delhi. Sources said a call on Jana Sena's representation may be taken in consultation with TDP boss and Kalyan's ally N Chandrababu Naidu.BJP's old ally Anupriya Patel, the Apna Dal chief who served as a minister in the earlier Modi dispensations, is seen as a certainty.The claims of both Jitan Ram Manjhi, former Bihar CM who is the sole representative of Hindustan Awam Morcha, the Mahadalit outfit that he founded, as well as NCP for Cabinet berths are considered to be strong, and will be settled by Narendra Modi.While those involved in negotiations were tight-lipped, sources said three-term Srikakulam MP Ram Mohan Naidu could be a probable for the Cabinet berth from TDP's quota. Though only 34, Naidu, son of former Cabinet minister, the late Yerran Naidu, and nephew of TDP's AP unit chief Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, is seen as a rising OBC face. Chandrasekhar Pemmasani, a doctor from the Kamma community with assets of over Rs 5,000 crore who has been elected from Guntur, could be the party's choice for the junior minister berth.Former JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lallan' and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's confidant Sanjay Jha are considered favourites for the Cabinet berth, in that order.Although Rajiv Ranjan Singh is senior, former Bihar water resources minister Sanjay Jha is also a strong contender. Besides chief minister Nitish Kumar's trust, he also enjoys goodwill in BJP for the role he played in facilitating JD(U)'s return to NDA.For the junior minister berth, JD(U) is likely to consider someone from the MBC bloc, an important constituency for the party. Rajya Sabha member Ramnath Thakur, whose father, the late Karpoori Thakur, was awarded a Bharat Ratna by the Modi govt, is likely to get the nod, although the party has an array of choices to pick from.For the Shiv Sena quota, it is likely to be a toss-up between Shrirang Barne, the three-term winner from Maval, and Prataprao Jadhav, the winner from Buldhana, while Modi may be keen to bring in Chirag Paswan, whose claim to be the legatee of his father, late Dalit leader Ram Vilas Paswan, has been fortified with LJP sweeping the five seats allotted to it.Modi's choices are being looked forward to also for the clues they may offer regarding his response to the setback that the party suffered in Uttar Pradesh and elsewhere and the success of the opposition's claims that BJP was anti-Dalit and had sought a super majority to change the Constitution to scrap caste quotas.While the suspense over inductions from among allies is expected to end on Sunday evening, when the swearing-in is scheduled, speculation over ministry-making may persist until the portfolios are announced. Whether the portfolios of CCS ministers are going to be shuffled remains a matter of intense discussion in political and bureaucratic circles which are also waiting with keen anticipation for the picks for crucial positions like principal secretary, cabinet secretary, foreign secretary, home secretary, Army chief, ED director and SBI chairman.Likely assignments for former chief ministers like Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Manohar Lal Khattar will also have a bearing on the pecking order and indicate their standing, besides being a pointer to the govt's priorities.Several new faces from BJP are also expected, with over 20 of the 71 ministers having lost the elections.
