New Delhi:
The issues and perils of operating a coalition authorities had been highlighted Monday morning by a squabble between the BJP and its Maharashtra allies – the Shiv Sena unit led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction.
A staggering 71 MPs – the overwhelming majority from the BJP and a handful from allied events, together with ‘kingmakers’ N Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP and Nitish Kumar’s JDU – had been sworn in Sunday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath for a report third time.
Of these 71 solely 5 are from Maharashtra, wherein the BJP and its Nationwide Democratic Alliance flopped, selecting up simply 17 of its 48 Lok Sabha seats; the BJP received 9, the Sena faction seven, and the NCP one. In 2019 the BJP received 23 and the Sena (then undivided) 18.
And of these 5, 4 are from the BJP. The fifth is the Shinde Sena’s Prataprao Jadhav, who was sworn in as a junior minister, albeit with unbiased cost. The same provide had been made to Praful Patel of Ajit Pawar’s NCP however that was refused as a “demotion”.
NCP Junks BJP’s MoS Supply
The argument from the NCP’s facet is that Mr Patel, as a former cupboard minister, is simply too senior a determine to carry an junior minister’s submit. On Sunday Ajit Pawar – in Delhi for Mr Modi’s oath-taking – advised reporters his social gathering is “prepared to attend” for that cupboard berth
“We’ve got one Lok Sabha and one Rajya Sabha MP ((Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel). Within the coming months, we can have two extra Rajya Sabha MPs. Then we can have 4 MPs and will get a cupboard berth. We’re prepared to attend however desire a cupboard berth,” he stated.
Mr Patel was equally resolute, telling reporters, “I used to be earlier cupboard minister (within the Congress-led UPA authorities and being made MoS (Minister of State) is a demotion.”
Mr Patel – now a Rajya Sabha MP – was Minister of Heavy Industries from 2011 to 2014.
“The BJP advised us to attend for a number of days… stated they are going to take remedial measures.”
Nevertheless, each Mr Pawar and Mr Patel – conscious of fragile nature of a NDA authorities led by the BJP that’s 30 seats beneath majority – underlined their assist to Mr Modi’s social gathering.
Senior BJP chief and ex-Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has stated an upgraded submit for the NCP will probably be “thought-about” when the cupboard is expanded.
Shinde Sena Performs Ready Sport
In the meantime, the Shinde Sena had demanded three posts – one within the cupboard and two junior minister berths. Within the BJP’s dance – to accommodate 14 allies who received Lok Sabha seats and performed their position in guaranteeing a 3rd time period for the social gathering – Shinde Sena received only one MoS submit.
Mr Shinde, although, is, for now, in a extra amicable temper. His social gathering has accepted the supplied submit however has additionally stated it expects its “share” within the subsequent cupboard enlargement.
How a lot room there may be for the BJP to seek out these two berths, certainly one of cupboard rank, is unclear, because the union cupboard is now solely 9 wanting its most power.
Significantly since Mr Modi should additionally look to the NCP’s demand of a cupboard berth.
The BJP has, nonetheless, stated cupboard formation has not been finalised.
BJP The Huge Winner
The BJP has given its Maharashtra MPs two cupboard berths and two junior positions, together with certainly one of unbiased cost. The BJP is the most important social gathering (of the NDA members) from the state with 9 MPs, however that may be a return of 32 per cent from 28 seats contested.
The Sena, then again, contested simply 15 seats however received six.
The NCP contested 4 and received only one. Among the many three it misplaced was the high-profile Baramati constituency that’s the bastion of (now ousted) social gathering founder Sharad Pawar.
2024 Lok Sabha Election
The BJP edged previous the 272-seat majority mark within the Lok Sabha after votes had been counted final week. The social gathering itself received solely 240 seats, however 53 from NDA members put it over the road.
Of these 53, 28 are from Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP and Nitish Kumar’s JDU. With out these two, Mr Modi’s authorities is within the minority. The Shinde Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP mixed have solely seven MPs, that means their withdrawal won’t have an effect on the federal government.