NDA's Maharashtra allies upset over Cabinet Berths II VYGR

Coalition Government: The Results of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections unfolded in a way that led to the formation of a Coalition Government. A Coalition Government is built on the foundation of consensual politics. And in the Indian subcontinent, where diversity and regionalisation have been the norm, a Coalition ensures wider representation. However, its seamless functioning highly depends on all the political parties involved and how they conduct themselves in a way that ensures the absence of a centralising tendency.

The NCP's Rejection of the Ministry of State (Independent)

In the first indication of the strains and stresses that come with a coalition government, the Ajit Pawar-led, Nationalist Congress Party refused to accept the BJP’s offer of Minister of State (Independent) in the NDA Council. The party stated that they expected a Cabinet berth for their MP Praful Patel and are willing to wait till the changes are made. Patel was offered the position of Minister of State with Independent Charge, which is a ministerial position in the Indian State or Union Government that does not have an overseeing Cabinet Minister. He is in control of his ministry, as opposed to the Minister of State, who is also a Minister but supports a cabinet minister.

“But since I have already been a Cabinet minister in the Union Government, I cannot take this position because it would be a demotion. We have informed the BJP leadership and they have already told us to just wait for a few days, they will take remedial measures,” said Praful Patel

The Shiv Sena's Discontentment

Later on Monday, June 10, Shrirang Barne, an MP of the Shiv Sena under Eknath Shinde’s leadership expressed dissatisfaction with their party’s exclusion from the Cabinet. The Shiv Sena, led by Shinde, contested 15 seats and won seven of them, including Shrirang Barne's Maval Constituency. Barne emphasised the Shiv Sena's electoral successes, claiming that it was the third largest party in the NDA, after the TDP and JD(U). Parties that have contributed substantially fewer votes to the alliance have also been given Cabinet positions. Barne claimed that even leaders like HD Kumaraswamy and Jitan Ram Manjhi, whose parties won two and one seats, respectively, were given cabinet positions. Chirag Paswan, whose party gained five seats, was also awarded a cabinet position.

The non-BJP NDA leaders who got the Union Cabinet berths:

Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu (TDP): Ministry of Civil Aviation
Lallan Singh JD(U): Ministry of Panchayati Raj; Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
HD Kumaraswamy JD(S): Ministry of Heavy Industries; Ministry of Steel
Jitan Ram Manjhi (HAM): Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises
Chirag Paswan LJP(RV): Ministry of Food Processing Industries

However, the Shiv Sena also stated firmly that its support for Narendra Modi's government was unconditional, and that no Cabinet job or portfolio was being bargained for. Despite their dissatisfaction, both the Shiv Sena and the NCP have expressed their support for the newly formed coalition government. However, ahead of the state's Assembly elections, Mahashtra's two factions must work together with their allies to ensure the alliance's overall victory. The BJP-led Mahayuti Alliance, together with Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP, will contest the assembly elections jointly.

Inputs: Agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies