The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to keep the ‘Big 4’ portfolios with itself as deliberations take the final shape for the government formation.

Narendra Modi will take oath as the Prime Minister of India along with the Union Council of Ministers on Sunday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

As it is the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and not just of the BJP, the number of the non-BJP ministers is expected to shoot.

The CNN-News 18 has, however, reported that the Modi will keep the ‘Big 4’ portfolios of Home, Defence, Finance, and External Affairs with the BJP. In the 2nd Modi Ministry (2010-24), the portfolios were held by Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, and S Jaishankar.

Among the non-BJP members of the NDA, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) are expected to get the lion’s share of ministerial berths. There is understood to be intense jostling for the Railways portfolio between the JD (U) and Lok Janshakti Party-Ramvilas (LJP-R) of Chirag Paswan.

Both the Bihar-based parties, the JD (U) and LJP (R), are eyeing the Railways portfolio as it holds a lot of significance in their region. As Bihar has a high number of people working in other states for whom the railways are crucial medium of commute for work and festivals like Chhat alike, both the Bihar-based parties are eyeing it. Previously, two Chief Ministers of Bihar —Nitish Kumar of JD (U) and Lalu Prasad Yadav of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)— have been Railways Minister.

Among the non-BJP members of the NDA, the TDP has demanded up to eight ministerial berths, the JD (U) three, and Shiv Sena five.

Previously, there were also reports that the TDP has also demanded the post of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. The JD (U) was also reported to have asked for the coalition government to have a common minimum programme.

The TDP was also reported to have demanded a special economic package for Andhra Pradesh and funds for the development of Amravati as the state’s capital. TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu is set to be the next CM of Andhra Pradesh.

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Govt formation: BJP to keep ‘Big 4’ portfolios, intense jostling for Railways going on