JD(U) seeks ‘respectable’ share in Union cabinet

PATNA: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), the second largest constituent of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA at the Centre, on Saturday said alliance partners should have a “respectable” share in the Union council of ministers.

JD(U) national president RCP Singh said he was aware of a possible expansion of the Union cabinet. “JD(U) is a constituent of the NDA and should get preference in representation in cabinet expansion. Allies should get due respect in a coalition,” he told reporters in Patna.

At present, JD(U) has no representation in the Union cabinet. In the 2019 parliamentary polls, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners won 39 out of the 40 seats in Bihar. JD(U) won 16 seats, while ally BJP won 17 seats. Six seats went to another NDA partner, the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) while Congress won only one seat. JD(U), however, did not join the Union cabinet, apparently unhappy over being offered just a “token representation”.

Currently, there are five central ministers from Bihar, all from the BJP. LJP patriarch Ram Vilas Paswan was also a minister till his death last year.

JD(U) insiders said the party, which became the second largest constituent in the NDA after the departure of 18-member strong Shiv Sena, could ask for three cabinet-rank berths and two ministers of state.

However, a section of leaders in JD(U) said the decision would depend much on whether an offer is also made to the LJP. “If LJP gets representation... JD(U) might not join,” said a senior leader, who didn’t wish to be named. LJP, now led by Jamui MP Chirag Paswan, had fielded 100 candidates in the Bihar Assembly elections last year and the JD(U) blamed the party for damaging its prospects severely.