BJP Wants to Retain Big 4, Naidu and Nitish May Get 3 Berths Each: Sources On Portfolio Talks

BJP Wants to Retain Big 4, Naidu and Nitish May Get 3 Berths Each: Sources On Portfolio Talks

Keywords: BJP, Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, J.P. Nadda, Nirmala Sitharaman, Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Jagat Prakash Nadda, Nitin Gadkari, N Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is aiming to retain its top four ministers – Nirmala Sitharaman, Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, and Nitin Gadkari – in the Narendra Modi government’s second term, sources told News18.

According to sources, party president J.P. Nadda is playing a key role in the talks with allies, including the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Janata Dal (United), over portfolio allocation.

The TDP, which has four Lok Sabha MPs, is likely to get three berths in the Union Cabinet. Party chief and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is expected to be given a key portfolio, such as finance or external affairs.

The JD(U), which has 16 Lok Sabha MPs, is also likely to get three berths. Party chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is expected to be given a key portfolio, such as home or defence.

The BJP’s own ministers are likely to be retained in their current portfolios. Sitharaman is likely to continue as finance minister, while Singh is likely to continue as home minister. Shah is likely to continue as party president and minister of home affairs. Gadkari is likely to continue as minister of road transport and highways.

The new government is likely to be sworn in on May 30.