New Delhi: With the aim of expediting government formation, the top brass of BJP was engaged in discussions on Thursday about its broad contours and senior party leaders were deputed to talk with allies. A series of meetings were held at BJP chief JP Nadda‘s residence.Also Read: Modi & team to take oath on June 9
In the morning, senior BJP leaders Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and general secretary BL Santosh held a marathon meeting with Nadda. Party leaders also separately met senior RSS functionaries. Nadda and Shah met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the evening at his residence. Shah and Nadda are likely to coordinate with allies, along with Singh.
Meetings with Senior Leaders
Nadda and Shah also held meetings with Piyush Goyal, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Mansukh Mandaviya — all ministers in the outgoing cabinet — and general secretaries Vinod Tawde and Tarun Chugh.
- All
- Uttar Pradesh
- Maharashtra
- Tamil Nadu
- West Bengal
- Bihar
- Karnataka
- Andhra Pradesh
- Telangana
- Kerala
- Madhya Pradesh
- Rajasthan
- Delhi
- Other States
Sources in the BJP said talks with allies on portfolios haven’t yet taken formal shape. But all NDA partners have agreed that hurdles shouldn’t come in the way of government formation, they added.The BJP is certain that it will keep the four key portfolios of home, finance, defence and external affairs for itself, along with those ministries that touch the lives of the common man, in addition to the post of the Lok Sabha Speaker, they said.A senior party leader said the Lok Sabha speaker’s post had been given to TDP in NDA government headed by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee when the Andhra Pradesh party was not part of the government at the Centre.Sources in the TDP, which is headed by N Chandrababu Naidu, said their primary focus is Andhra Pradesh and its development, and therefore the party might seek those portfolios that will help speed up completion of the Polavaram irrigation project and the state’s new capital city of Amravati.
When asked about portfolios demanded by TDP, party MP Ram Mohan Naidu told ET, “Our priority is Andhra Pradesh’s development and catering to the aspirations of the people. Our party chief will take decision on its basis.”
He added that TDP is committed to a smooth and stable NDA government at the Centre under PM Narendra Modi’s leadership.
It has been indicated that both the TDP and JDU — key coalition partners — might be looking for financial assistance or special status for Andhra Pradesh and Bihar.
