With the BJP falling short of a majority in the Lok Sabha, Bihar Chief Minister and JD-U head Nitish Kumar and TDP’s N Chandrababu Naidu — both constituents of the National Democratic Alliance — have emerged as potential kingmakers. While Kumar’s party has 12 seats, the TDP has 16.
Both Naidu and Nitish have at some point quit the NDA only to return to the coalition. When Naidu was part of the NDA in 2014, his party was given one cabinet berth and a Minister of State (MoS) portfolio. Sources say with his 16 seats vital for government formation, Naidu may ask alliance leader BJP for a bigger share in government. Naidu, whose party also swept the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections, will also hold discussions with the BJP top brass on government formation in the state.
Also part of the tripartite NDA alliance in Andhra Pradesh is actor-politician Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena. The saffron party is also reportedly looking to reward him for the state victory that ousted Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSRCP from power.
Among allies looking for their pound of flesh is Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, which won seven seats in Maharashtra. Shinde has not asked for any central cabinet berth since he joined hands with the BJP and split the Shiv Sena into two. But each seat counts now and with Maharashtra Assembly elections scheduled later this year, Shinde would want to brush up his position in the alliance.
Senior leaders of the NDA are likely to meet on Wednesday to take stock of the Lok Sabha poll results and deliberate on the details of government formation.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Naidu reiterated that he is with the NDA. “I thank the people of Andhra Pradesh for giving us this huge mandate. People witnessed complete breakdown of administration in the last five years. There was no governance. Hence, we worked hard to ensure that there must be victory of people again. There should be people’s governance, they should be at the helm of affairs,” he said.
“Never seen this kind of historical election in my political life. Even people sitting in America came down to vote this time as they wanted change… The people won’t forgive anyone who works with arrogance and that’s why we won this huge mandate,” he added.
Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu will attend the meeting where top leaders of the BJP and its other allies are also expected to be present.
They are expected to congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is set for a record-equalling third term at the helm, and discuss with him the details of the new government, which is likely to be different in composition and character with a bigger share for the BJP’s allies.
While the NDA is comfortably above the majority mark of 272 in the 543-member Lok Sabha, the BJP has fallen short of the magic number for the first time since 2014 and is critically dependent on its allies for government formation.
TDP, JD(U), Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Chirag Paswan-led LJP (Ram Vilas) have won 16, 12, seven and five seats, respectively, and will play a crucial role in government formation.
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