Chirag Paswan to HD Kumaraswamy: BJP Allies Who Are Now Union Ministers

Chirag Paswan to HD Kumaraswamy: BJP Allies Who Are Now Union Ministers

Keywords: BJP, Union Ministers, Chirag Paswan, HD Kumaraswamy

Introduction:

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which led the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to a landslide victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, has welcomed a number of allies into its fold as Union Ministers. Among them are Chirag Paswan and HD Kumaraswamy, who were previously bitter critics of the BJP.

Chirag Paswan:

Chirag Paswan, the son of late Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, was elected as a Lok Sabha MP from Bihar in 2019. He is the president of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), which had been an ally of the BJP for decades. However, in 2019, the LJP contested against the BJP in Bihar, leading to tensions between the two parties.

Despite the differences, Paswan was named Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in the Narendra Modi government in July 2021. His appointment was seen as a move to woo back Paswan voters who had shifted to the BJP in the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections.

HD Kumaraswamy:

HD Kumaraswamy, the former Chief Minister of Karnataka, is another prominent ally to join the Modi government. He is the leader of the Janata Dal (Secular), which was part of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in 2013-18.

Kumaraswamy has been a vocal critic of the BJP in the past. However, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the JD(S) formed an alliance with the BJP and won two seats. Kumaraswamy himself was elected as an MP from Mandya.

In July 2021, Kumaraswamy was appointed Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers in the Modi government. His inclusion was seen as a strategic move to strengthen the BJP’s presence in Karnataka, where the party had faced setbacks in recent years.

Analysis:

The appointment of Chirag Paswan and HD Kumaraswamy as Union Ministers is seen as a significant move by the BJP to consolidate its power and expand its support base. It is also a reflection of the party’s willingness to work with former critics, even those who have been openly critical of the BJP in the past.

The inclusion of these two leaders in the Modi government has the potential to impact the political landscape in Bihar and Karnataka, where the BJP is looking to strengthen its position. It also highlights the BJP’s efforts to build an even broader coalition of allies ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in several states and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.