Fact News Service
New Delhi, June 8
Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) is all set to get two ministerial berths in the new Narendra Modi cabinet, sources said. The names of two leaders – Ram Nath Thakur and Lalan Singh have been proposed.
Lalan Singh was elected to the Lok Sabha from Munger in Bihar, while Ram Nath Thakur who is the son of Bharat Ratna recipient Karpoori Thakur is a Rajya Sabha MP.
This decision was taken at the NDA meeting to decide on the cabinet berths ahead of the government’s swearing-in.
Sources say, JD(U) has been seekingthe party won 12 seats in the just concluded Lok Sabha polls. The saffron party’s another ally, Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP, has also thrown in their hat for four portfolios and also for the post of the speaker.
Nitish and Naidu became kingmakers after the the BJP could only manage 240 seats, falling 32 short of the magic figure of 272 required for a majority. Together, the NDA clinched 293 seats in the 543-member Lower House, marking a significant shift and bringing in another era of coalition-centred politics.
This NDA coalition is a reminder of an era before 2014 – when PM Modi came to power with complete majority – and alliance partners haggled for ministerial berths.
