The speculations on ministerial berths continue as Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi is hours away from taking oath for a third consecutive term.
The wait is on to see what and who will be compromised as India is set to welcome its first coalition government after a decade.
Amid the speculations, what appears certain is the presence of BJP heavyweights including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, Dharamendra Pradhan, Nityanand Rai, Jyotiraditya Scindia, S Jaishankar, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Dr Jitendra Singh in the new cabinet.
Amit Shah to retain Home Ministry, Finance to be in new hands
The Ministry of Home will remain with the BJP as expected, with Amit Shah serving a second term. The Finance Ministry however is likely to be handed over to the previous Textiles, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
Nitin Gadkari to retain portfolio for a third term
BJP stalwart and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari is set to retain his portfolio for a third consecutive term. Gadkari has won the 2014, 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the Nagpur constituency.
Jaishankar to retain External Affairs ministry
S Jaishankar, the Foreign Minister in the cabinet of Modi-led BJP government's second term is set to retain his post. Jaishankar is the country's first Foreign Secretary to become a Foreign Minister and has held the post during tough times such as Covid 19, Russia- Ukraine war and Israel- Gaza war.
JP Nadda might be given a ministerial post
BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda is likely to be given a cabinet berth in the new NDA government.
Shekhawat to serve a third term
BJP leader and Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is likely to serve a third term in the new NDA cabinet.
Thanking Modi for the oppportunity, he said, "The prime minister has given me the opportunity to serve the country by including me in his team for the third consecutive time. We will work as a team under the leadership of the prime minister and fulfil all the promises and live up to the expectations and aspirations of the country."
G Kishan Reddy is in
Senior BJP leader G Kishan Reddy announced that he will be taking oath as a Union Minister.
“With the blessings of the people of Secunderabad & Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi, I will be taking oath as Union Minister today at 7pm. My gratitude to the constituents of Secunderabad, Hon’ble PM, @BJP4India President Shri @JPNadda ji, Sr leaders, and all well-wishers for reiterating trust and faith in me. I seek your continued support,” the MP wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Kumaraswamy gets cabinet berth, thanks Modi
JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy is all set to take oath as Union Minister. The former Chief Minister of Karnataka thanked Prime Minister-designate Modi for giving him the opportunity.
“Under Narendra Modi's leadership, a decision has been made, after discussion with BJP national President (JP Nadda), Home Minister (Amit Shah) and Defence Minister (Rajnath Singh). They have identified me and given me an opportunity. The entire credit for this has to go to people of Kannada Naadu in my opinion,” Kumaraswamy said.
Chirag Paswan to be Union Minister
Chirag Paswan of LJP is set to be appointed a minister in the new NDA cabinet. Paswan, also a passionate actor who shared the screen with BJP MP from Mandi Kangana Ranaut, has turned his political fortunes around by winning all the five seats his party contested in Bihar, emerging as a significant power in the NDA alliance.
Suresh Gopi gets the call, to keep the promise of 'Union Minister for Kerala'
Actor turned politician Suresh Gopi, who is BJP's lone MP from Kerala is set to be a Cabinet minister in the Modi 3.0 government after receiving a call from the PM on Sunday morning.
"PM decided, I am obeying him. I don't know what awaits me," Suresh Gopi told mediapersons before leaving for Delhi.
TDP will have to settle for two cabinet berths
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Lok Sabha members from Andhra Pradesh, K Ram Mohan Naidu and Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, are likely to be inducted into the Union Cabinet.
According to a post on 'X' by former TDP MP Galla Jayadev, Naidu, Srikakula Lok Sabha member will get a Cabinet minister post, while Pemmasani, Guntur MP, would get a minister of state berth.
"Congratulations to my young friend @RamMNK on being confirmed as a cabinet minister in the new #NDA Government! Your sincerity and humble nature will surely be an asset to the development of the country. Wishing you all the best in your new role!," Jaydev said in the post.
According to sources, the TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu is said to be lobbying with the Centre for more financial assistance for various projects in the State, rather than insisting on Cabinet berths.
JDU gets one cabinet berth for Ramnath Thakur
Former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur's son Ram Nath Thakur is set to be inducted into the cabinet of new NDA government. There are also reports about another JDU MP, Lalan Singh being considered for the cabinet post.
Kerala to get a second cabinet minister
Kerala is likely to have two cabinet ministers in the new NDA government. In addition to Suresh Gopi, who gave BJP its big break in Kerala, another name is also doing rounds. George Kurian, former vice-president of the Minority Commission is expected to be part of the Modi-led NDA government as the saffron party seeks to increase its footprints in the southern state ahead of the assembly polls scheduled for next year.
Will NCP be accommodated?
Speculations are rife on whether Ajit Pawar's NCP will get a cabinet berth. The party's projected candidate for the post is veteran politician Praful Patel who is a six-term Rajya Sabha MP and a four-term Lok Sabha MP. Praful Patel was elected to the Rajya Sabha unopposed in April this year.
According to reports, Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis has said the NCP has been offered a Minister of State position. However, the party is insisting on a cabinet-rank minister position, as Patel has been a senior minister in the past. Praful handled the civil aviation ministry under the UPA government from 2004 and 2011. Between 2011 and 2014, Patel also held the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.
Speaing to reporters NCP chief Ajit Pawar said they are ready to wait while the BJP considers giving the party a cabinet post.
"We have one Lok Sabha member (Sunil Tatkare) and one Rajya Sabha MP (Praful Patel). In the coming months, we will have two additional Rajya Sabha MPs. We will have four MPs (then). We should (then) get a cabinet berth. We are ready to wait but want a cabinet berth," Pawar said.
Jual Oram to return for a third term
The six-time MP from Sundargarh in Odisha, Jual Oram, is likely to serve a third term as Union Minister in the Narendra Modi-led NDA government.
Oram, 63, was assigned the tribal affairs portfolio in the previous two governments. Oram defeated hockey icon and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidate Dilip Tirkey from his traditional base Sundargarh by more than 1.38 lakh votes in the 2024 general elections.
Kiren Rijiju to return as cabinet minister
BJP leader Kiren Rijiju on Sunday said he will take oath as the Cabinet Minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government and vowed to serve the nation with zeal and devotion.
"I will take oath as Cabinet Minister around 7. 30 pm on 9th June 2024," Rijiju, the Earth Sciences Minister in the outgoing government, said in a post on X.
Rijiju has served as the cabinet minister of Earth Sciences and Food Processing Industries since 2023. He previously held the positions of Minister of State for Home Affairs from 2014 to 2019, Minister of State for Minority Affairs from 2019 to 2021, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Sports and Youth Affairs from 2019 to 2021, and Minister of Law from 2021 to 2023.
