Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is contemplating appointing some of its senior Members of Parliament (MPs) as chairpersons of parliamentary committees if they cannot be accommodated in the new cabinet, according to sources in the party who spoke with ET.
After falling short of a majority in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, BJP now faces the necessity of sharing cabinet positions with its allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
The Parliament comprises 24 standing committees, with 16 falling under the purview of the Lok Sabha and eight under the Rajya Sabha.
On Friday, the BJP’s state in-charge reportedly instructed state party units to compile a list of senior leaders who could potentially serve as chairpersons of parliamentary committees. Each state is required to submit two to three names for consideration, from which the party will make selections once the parliamentary session commences.
The party is aware that the number of ministers from the BJP is likely to be fewer compared to previous cabinet formations in 2019 and 2022. Additionally, the BJP will need to allocate more cabinet positions to its NDA allies, particularly from states where they have performed well electorally.
In states like Bihar and Maharashtra, the performance of allies was comparable to that of the BJP. In Maharashtra, the BJP is negotiating two ministerial slots for allies Shiv Sena and NCP’s Ajit Pawar faction, while a decision is pending regarding RPI leader Ramdas Athawale’s ministerial tenure.
In Bihar, the BJP is expected to settle for two ministerial positions and share five cabinet slots with allies JDU, LJP, and HAM. Sources revealed that while proposing appointments for parliamentary committee chairmanship, priority will be given to states where the BJP plans to reduce its ministerial representation.
Sources further indicated that similar arrangements could be made among the NDA allies, with some of their MPs being considered for chairing parliamentary committees. State leaders have been instructed to submit their lists by the early part of next week.
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