Modi 3.0: Key Allies Gain Power as BJP Prepares for Third Term

Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with key NDA leaders today, many of whom are expected to be appointed as ministers in the new government. Among the attendees were BJP veterans and leaders of NDA allies, filling the front row as the Prime Minister spoke.

Notable leaders present included Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman, Dr. S. Jaishankar, Dharmendra Pradhan, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Piyush Goyal, all part of Modi's previous cabinet. Other significant figures included BJP veteran Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Jyotiraditya Scindia, JDU leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh, HAM leader Jitan Ram Manjhi, RLD's Jayant Chaudhary, JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy, LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, and Jitin Prasada.

A crucial difference between Modi 2.0 and Modi 3.0 is the BJP's reduced numbers in the Lok Sabha, falling below the majority mark. This has heightened the necessity to accommodate NDA allies in the council of ministers. N. Chandrababu Naidu's TDP and Nitish Kumar's JDU are expected to secure at least one cabinet berth and one Minister of State post each, according to top sources.

The decisions on the new cabinet were finalized after an extensive 11-hour meeting at the Prime Minister's residence. Key attendees included Amit Shah, BJP chief JP Nadda, and national general secretary (organization) BL Santhosh.

Prime Minister Modi will take the oath of office today at 7:15 p.m. Key ministers from Modi's previous government, including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and Nitin Gadkari, are likely to retain their portfolios. Nirmala Sitharaman and Dr. S. Jaishankar are also expected to continue in their roles as Finance and External Affairs Ministers, respectively.

Allies likely to be inducted into the new cabinet include Chirag Paswan (LJP), HD Kumaraswamy (JDS), Anupriya Patel (Apna Dal), Jayant Chaudhary (RLD), and Jitan Ram Manjhi (HAM). Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena may be represented by Buldhana MP Prataprao Jadhav, and Ramdas Athawale, chief of the BJP's ally Republican Party of India (A), is also set to become a minister.

Other potential ministers from the BJP include Pralhad Joshi, Manohar Lal Khattar, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sarbananda Sonowal, and Kiren Rijiju. Additional names being considered are G. Kishan Reddy, Shobha Karandlaje, BL Verma, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Nityanand Rai, and Giriraj Singh.

With the BJP's tally at 240, 32 short of the majority mark, the roles of Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar have become pivotal. TDP, which won 16 seats, and JDU, with 12 seats, are reportedly demanding significant central roles. TDP MPs Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani and Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu are expected to be included in Modi's new cabinet, as announced by TDP leader Jay Galla on X.

The official announcement of Prime Minister Modi's new team will confirm these speculations.