Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde with NCP boss Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis (File).
New Delhi:
The issues and perils of operating a coalition authorities have been highlighted Monday morning by a squabble between the BJP and its Maharashtra allies – the Shiv Sena unit led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar‘s NCP faction.
A staggering 71 MPs – the overwhelming majority from the BJP and a handful from allied events, together with ‘kingmakers’ N Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP and Nitish Kumar’s JDU – have been sworn in Sunday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath for a file third time.
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Of these 71 solely 5 are from Maharashtra, through which the BJP and its Nationwide Democratic Alliance flopped, choosing up simply 17 of its 48 Lok Sabha seats; the BJP obtained 9, the Sena faction seven, and the NCP one. In 2019 the BJP obtained 23 and the Sena (then undivided) 18.
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And of these 5, 4 are from the BJP. The fifth is the Shinde Sena’s Prataprao Jadhav, who was sworn in as a junior minister, albeit with impartial cost. An analogous provide had been made to Praful Patel of Ajit Pawar’s NCP however that was refused as a “demotion”.
NCP Junks BJP’s MoS Provide
The argument from the NCP’s aspect is that Mr Patel, as a former cupboard minister, is simply too senior a determine to carry an junior minister’s put up. On Sunday Ajit Pawar – in Delhi for Mr Modi’s oath-taking – instructed reporters his get together is “prepared to attend” for that cupboard berth
“We’ve got one Lok Sabha and one Rajya Sabha MP ((Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel). Within the coming months, we could have two extra Rajya Sabha MPs. Then we could have 4 MPs and will get a cupboard berth. We’re prepared to attend however desire a cupboard berth,” he stated.
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Mr Patel was equally resolute, telling reporters, “I used to be earlier cupboard minister (within the Congress-led UPA authorities and being made MoS (Minister of State) is a demotion.”
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Mr Patel – now a Rajya Sabha MP – was Minister of Heavy Industries from 2011 to 2014.
“The BJP instructed us to attend for just a few days… stated they are going to take remedial measures.”
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Nonetheless, each Mr Pawar and Mr Patel – conscious of fragile nature of a NDA authorities led by the BJP that’s 30 seats under majority – underlined their help to Mr Modi’s get together.
Senior BJP chief and ex-Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has stated an upgraded put up for the NCP can be “thought of” when the cupboard is expanded.
Shinde Sena Performs Ready Sport
In the meantime, the Shinde Sena had demanded three posts – one within the cupboard and two junior minister berths. Within the BJP’s dance – to accommodate 14 allies who gained Lok Sabha seats and performed their function in making certain a 3rd time period for the get together – Shinde Sena obtained only one MoS put up.
Mr Shinde, although, is, for now, in a extra amicable temper. His get together has accepted the supplied put up however has additionally stated it expects its “share” within the subsequent cupboard growth.
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How a lot room there’s for the BJP to seek out these two berths, one in every of cupboard rank, is unclear, because the union cupboard is now solely 9 wanting its most energy.
Notably since Mr Modi should additionally look to the NCP’s demand of a cupboard berth.
The BJP has, nevertheless, stated cupboard formation has not been finalised.
BJP The Massive Winner
The BJP has given its Maharashtra MPs two cupboard berths and two junior positions, together with one in every of impartial cost. The BJP is the most important get together (of the NDA members) from the state with 9 MPs, however that could be a return of 32 per cent from 28 seats contested.
The Sena, then again, contested simply 15 seats however gained six.
The NCP contested 4 and obtained only one. Among the many three it misplaced was the high-profile Baramati constituency that’s the bastion of (now ousted) get together founder Sharad Pawar.
2024 Lok Sabha Election
The BJP edged previous the 272-seat majority mark within the Lok Sabha after votes have been counted final week. The get together itself obtained solely 240 seats, however 53 from NDA members put it over the road.
Of these 53, 28 are from Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP and Nitish Kumar’s JDU. With out these two, Mr Modi’s authorities is within the minority. The Shinde Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP mixed have solely seven MPs, that means their withdrawal is not going to have an effect on the federal government.
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