PATNA: Ahead of Thursday’s swearing-in ceremony of the Union cabinet, Bihar’s ruling JD(U) on Wednesday formally decided to join the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre.
In a decision taken at its national office-bearers’ meeting held in New Delhi this evening, the JD(U) authorized party president and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to choose the names. The party expects at least two cabinet berths.
“Our president Nitish Kumar will decide as to who all will be the ministers from JD(U) in the Modi government,” a senior JD(U) functionary, who attended the party’s meeting, told TOI over phone.
With 16 members in the Lok Sabha, JD(U) has emerged as the third largest party in the NDA after BJP (303 members) and Shiv Sena (18). Based on its strength in the Lok Sabha, the JD(U) expects to get at least two cabinet berths and a junior minister’s position in the Union cabinet.
“If Ram Vilas Paswan’s LJP, with six members in the Lok Sabha, can get one cabinet berth, why JD(U), having 16 MPs in the Lok Sabha and six in the Rajya Sabha, cannot get three berths?” a JD(U) functionary asked.
Earlier in the day, Nitish met BJP president Amit Shah in New Delhi. The national presidents of both parties are understood to have discussed JD(U)’s representation in the NDA government.
JD(U)’s Lok Sabha member from Munger Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh and its Rajya Sabha member RCP Singh have emerged as front runners for cabinet berths. One MP from Kushwaha community might be accommodated as minister of state, sources in the JD(U) said.
In another decision taken at the JD(U) meeting in Delhi, the party has decided to hold its national executive in Patna on June 9.
The meeting presided over by Nitish also decided to launch a membership drive and a formal process for its organizational polls from June 5 across the nation, national general secretary Afaque Ahmad Khan told TOI. He said, the JD(U) holds its organizational polls at an interval of three years. The last membership drive was launched in Patna on June 5, 2016.
Khan said, the membership drive would be launched in all 25 states and Union Territories where JD(U) has a presence. With seven MLAs, the JD(U) recently emerged as the second largest party in Arunachal Pradesh, while it has a cabinet minister in the Nagaland government.
Khan also said, party’s senior leader Anil Hedge was nominated as national returning officer for ensuring fair conduct of organizational polls across the country.
In a decision taken at its national office-bearers’ meeting held in New Delhi this evening, the JD(U) authorized party president and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to choose the names. The party expects at least two cabinet berths.
“Our president Nitish Kumar will decide as to who all will be the ministers from JD(U) in the Modi government,” a senior JD(U) functionary, who attended the party’s meeting, told TOI over phone.
With 16 members in the Lok Sabha, JD(U) has emerged as the third largest party in the NDA after BJP (303 members) and Shiv Sena (18). Based on its strength in the Lok Sabha, the JD(U) expects to get at least two cabinet berths and a junior minister’s position in the Union cabinet.
“If Ram Vilas Paswan’s LJP, with six members in the Lok Sabha, can get one cabinet berth, why JD(U), having 16 MPs in the Lok Sabha and six in the Rajya Sabha, cannot get three berths?” a JD(U) functionary asked.
Earlier in the day, Nitish met BJP president Amit Shah in New Delhi. The national presidents of both parties are understood to have discussed JD(U)’s representation in the NDA government.
JD(U)’s Lok Sabha member from Munger Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh and its Rajya Sabha member RCP Singh have emerged as front runners for cabinet berths. One MP from Kushwaha community might be accommodated as minister of state, sources in the JD(U) said.
In another decision taken at the JD(U) meeting in Delhi, the party has decided to hold its national executive in Patna on June 9.
The meeting presided over by Nitish also decided to launch a membership drive and a formal process for its organizational polls from June 5 across the nation, national general secretary Afaque Ahmad Khan told TOI. He said, the JD(U) holds its organizational polls at an interval of three years. The last membership drive was launched in Patna on June 5, 2016.
Khan said, the membership drive would be launched in all 25 states and Union Territories where JD(U) has a presence. With seven MLAs, the JD(U) recently emerged as the second largest party in Arunachal Pradesh, while it has a cabinet minister in the Nagaland government.
Khan also said, party’s senior leader Anil Hedge was nominated as national returning officer for ensuring fair conduct of organizational polls across the country.
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