More ministers likely from Bengal, Kerala, Odisha

New Delhi: Amid growing speculation over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s new ministerial team, states like West Bengal, Odisha and Kerala are likely to get more representation compared to Mr Modi’s first term. The NDA led by Mr Modi retained power at the Centre with a thumping majority when it won 353 seats, with the BJP alone winning 303 seats. Mr Modi and his council of ministers will take the oath on May 30. The three states were on the priority list of BJP president Amit Shah, in terms of gaining a foothold and expanding the organisational base, and the party gained significantly, except in Kerala, where Assembly polls are due in 2021. Speculation is also rife that Mr Shah could be accommodated in Team Modi but the RSS wants him to continue to lead the party, which gained significantly under his leadership.

Two key allies — the Shiv Sena and the JD(U) — will also get “proper” representation this time in Mr Modi’s council of ministers. Shiv Sena leader Anant Geete was the only representative of his party in Mr Modi’s previous team as the Sena had been sulking over losing the “big brother” status in state politics to the BJP. After losing ground and the chief ministership to the BJP, the Sena then got miffed with it for allocation just one Cabinet portfolio to it. The JD(U), which had snapped ties with the BJP in 2013 over Mr Modi’s elevation in the saffron party, rejoined the NDA camp in 2017. This time speculation is rife that both the Shiv Sena and the JD(U) could get two Cabinet berths each and one minister of state portfolio. Another ally, LJP’s chief Ram Vilas Paswan could again be accommodated in Mr Modi’s team. Though speculation was rife that instead of Paswan Senior his son Chirag Paswan could join the government, sources disclosed that Mr Modi wants the LJP chief in his team. With the BJP naming Kamakhya Prasad Tasa as its candidate from one of the two Rajya Sabha seats from Assam falling vacant next month, Mr Paswan, it was learnt, could be accommodated from some other state to the Upper House. Mr Paswan did not fight the just-concluded Lok Sabha polls. The BJP will back ally AGP’s claim for the second seat and Birendra Prasad Baishya could be its candidate. The Rajya Sabha term of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Santiuse Kujur, both Congress leaders, is ending next month.