Modi 3.0: BJP To Retain Crucial Portfolios, Nitin Gadkari Expected to Continue

New Delhi: As the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) prepares to form the next government, reports suggest that allies like the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal (United) (JDU) are likely to secure cabinet positions. According to reliable reports, the TDP and JDU could each receive one cabinet berth and one Minister of State post in the upcoming Modi 3.0 cabinet.

The decisions regarding the new cabinet were made after a marathon 11-hour meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence on Saturday, attended by BJP President JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah, and the party’s national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh.

Key figures from the outgoing administration, including Amit Shah (Home), Rajnath Singh (Defence), Nitin Gadkari (Roads and Highways), Nirmala Sitharaman (Finance), and Dr. S Jaishankar (External Affairs), are expected to retain their portfolios.

Allies likely to gain ministerial positions include Chirag Paswan (LJP), HD Kumaraswamy (JDS), Anupriya Patel (Apna Dal), Jayant Chaudhary (RLD), and Jitan Ram Manjhi (Hindustani Awam Morcha). Shiv Sena’s Prataprao Jadhav and Republic Party of India (A) chief Ramdas Athawale are also anticipated to join the cabinet.

BJP stalwarts Pralhad Joshi, Manohar Lal Khattar, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Jyotiraditya Scindia are likely candidates for ministerial roles. Northeast leaders Sarbananda Sonowal and Kiren Rijiju may return as ministers, along with G Kishan Reddy, Shobha Karandlaje, BL Verma, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Nityanand Rai, and Giriraj Singh.

Despite falling short of an absolute majority, the BJP’s tally of 240 seats has positioned allies like Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar as potential kingmakers. However, BJP sources suggest that the crucial portfolios in the Cabinet Committee on Security (Home, Defence, Finance, and External Affairs) are unlikely to be given away.

JDU’s Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Ram Nath Thakur are expected to receive ministerial roles, while TDP’s Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani and Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu have been confirmed by party leader Jay Galla on X.