Lacking a single majority in Parliament, the BJP has been forced to pay a price to keep Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu in the alliance. With Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu eyeing key ministerial posts, the BJP is not ready to give them up.
The BJP won only 240 seats in the Lok Sabha, which required 272 seats to secure a majority. With the majority needing 32 more seats, the BJP is forced to form the government with the support of Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu’s parties in the alliance.
It is noteworthy that Telugu Desam and JTU have jointly won 28 seats. As there is no chance of forming the government without the support of these two parties, the BJP is forced to fulfill their demands.
Nitish has earmarked key cabinet minister posts for Kumar. Reports suggest that he is particularly seeking the posts of rural development, defence, railways and agriculture ministers. Nitishkumar also seems to have a special demand for Bihar state with a view to increasing the financial opportunities of the Union government.
It is also said that Nitish Kumar is insisting on the post of Deputy Speaker of the Rajya Sabha. Apart from this, political sources say that Nitish Kumar will urge the BJP government to conduct a caste-wise census across the country.
Chandrababu Naidu is said to be eyeing key ministerial posts though he has not spoken openly yet. It seems that Chandrababu may demand urban and rural development, shipping and ports, road transport and highways department, water resources department known as Jalshakti.
Also, it seems that he will push to fulfill the demand of special qualification for Andhra Pradesh. Notably, the controversy over the special status claim for Andhra Pradesh prompted Chandrababu Naidu to break away from the BJP alliance in 2016.
Also joined the Telugu Desam Party as Lok Sabha Speaker in the Vajpayee government GMC Balayogi It is also said that Chandrababu Naidu is pressuring to get the post again, pointing out that he has served.
Despite the expectations of Nitish and Chandrababu, the BJP is not ready to give up some key portfolios. In particular, the BJP wants to keep the railways, home, finance, defence, law and information technology sectors under its control. Thus, it seems likely that Bhutakara problems will erupt during portfolio talks for Nitish and Naidu parties.
At present, JTU and TDP parties have announced that they will continue in the National Democratic Alliance. However, political observers say that Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu, known for their talkative nature, may switch parties if their demands are rejected.
