A meeting of senior leaders of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is underway in the national capital to discuss the formation of government after the ruling coalition won a majority in the Lok Sabha elections paving the way for Narendra Modi’s record third term as India’s Prime Minister.
The BJP, having won 240 seats, crossed the 272 majority mark with the support of its several allies, including the Telugu Desam Party and Janata Dal (United). With support from BJP’s key allies N Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh and Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) in Bihar and other alliance partners, the NDA crossed the halfway mark, securing 293 seats.
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Who Is Attending the NDA Meeting?
Modi is set for a record-equalling third term at the helm, though the new government 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, which won 240 seats, has fallen short of the magic number for the first time since 2014 and is critically dependent on its allies.
TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu, JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and LJP (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan are among those attending the meeting, where Modi and other senior BJP leaders will also be present. Meanwhile, NCP leader and Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar will skip the meeting.
These developments come as TDP, JD(U), Shinde-led Shiv Sena and LJP (Ram Vilas) have won 16, 12, seven and five seats respectively and will play a crucial role in government formation. HAM(S) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi is also expected at the NDA meeting. Reports suggest that NDA leaders are expected to formally repose their faith in Modi’s leadership and MPs of the coalition’s constituents may meet in a couple of days to elect him as their leader.
Parties in NDA Bloc
Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP, Nitish Kumar’s JDU, Ajit Pawar’s NCP, Eknath Sinde’s Shiv Sena, Chirag Paswan’s LJP, Janata Dal (S), Jayant Chowdhury’s RLD, Pawan Kalyan’s Jan Sena, Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM, UPPL, ZPM, SKM, Apna Dal, AGP, and AJSU.
Modi earlier today met with President Draupadi Murmu to tender the resignation of his council of Ministers. President Murmu has asked him to continue as caretaker till a new government is sworn in. Modi also held a cabinet meeting to review the Lok Sabha election results and discuss the formation of the new government.
Sources said Modi is set to form the government for a historic third term, with his oath-taking ceremony set for June 8. He will be the second Prime Minister in Indian history to achieve this feat after the country’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, served three consecutive terms.
(With agency inputs)
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