Former Chief Minister and current state president of Janata Dal (Secular), H D Kumaraswamy, is set to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet on Sunday. Modi will be sworn in as Prime Minister for the third consecutive term. This significant political move is part of a strategic alliance between the BJP and JDS.
Alliance Success in Elections
Recently in the Lok Sabha elections 2024, the BJP and JDS contested as allies. The BJP secured 17 seats, while the JDS won 2 seats, limiting the ruling Congress to just 9 seats. Despite not achieving a majority independently, the BJP has ensured representation for its allies in the new cabinet.
An NDA meeting on Thursday formulated a plan to allocate cabinet positions based on the number of seats won by allies. The agreement is to provide one cabinet berth for every five seats won. Allies with less than five seats will receive Minister of State positions.
Though the JDS won only two seats, qualifying for a Minister of State position, the BJP has decided to grant Kumaraswamy a full cabinet berth due to his experience and stature as a former Chief Minister.
Other Potential Cabinet Inductions
While it is confirmed that Kumaraswamy will join the cabinet, there is no clear indication yet about which BJP MPs from Karnataka will be included. Speculation suggests that former union minister Prahlad Joshi and either of the former Chief Ministers Jagadish Shettar or Basavaraj Bommai are strong contenders for cabinet positions. If not in this round, they are likely to be inducted in the subsequent expansion.
Former Deputy Chief Minister Govind Karjol’s name has also surfaced as a potential cabinet member under the Dalit quota. His inclusion is part of the BJP’s strategy to ensure diverse representation in the cabinet.
Family Connections and Aspirations
C N Manjunath, the brother-in-law of Kumaraswamy and the MP for Bengaluru Rural, is also aspiring for a position in Modi’s cabinet. He gained attention after defeating Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s brother in the elections. His potential induction adds an interesting family dynamic to the cabinet selection process.
As H D Kumaraswamy prepares to join Prime Minister Modi’s cabinet, this step highlights the strategic alliances and political maneuvering in the Bharatiya political landscape. The BJP’s inclusion of key allies like Kumaraswamy demonstrates its commitment to maintaining a strong and representative government.
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