BJP to retain key posts amid speculations of pressure from NDA partners

New Delhi: The third Narendra Modi government will take the oath of office today at 7.15 pm with the support of allies as the BJP fell short of adequate numbers to form the government on its own.

Given this, speculations ran rife about what the Modi 3.0 team would look with the allies are known to have pressed the saffron party with demands of key ministerial berths.

NDTV reported that N Chandrababu Naidu's TDP and Nitish Kumar's JDU are likely to get one cabinet berth and one Minister of State post each.

Amit Shah, BJP chief JP Nadda and the party's national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh attended an 11-hour meeting convened at the Prime Minister's residence yesterday to decide on the new cabinet.

Ahead of taking oath today, PM Modi will host a tea gathering of the would-be ministers at his residence, the report citing source said.

Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari are likely to retain their portfolios from the previous administration.

Others allies to get berths are Chirag Paswan of LJP (Ram Vilas) HD Kumaraswamy of JDS, Anupriya Patel of Apna Dal (Sonelal), Jayant Chaudhary of RLD and Jitan Ram Manjhi of Hindustani Awam Morcha.

Sources reportedly said that the BJP will retain crucial portfolios: Home, Defence, Finance and External Affairs alongside the road connectivity with Nitin Gadkari returning to take over the portfolio Road Transport & Highways.

Other BJP leaders likely to get positions in the cabinet are Sarbananda Sonowal and Kiren Rijiju from the Northeast.

Fallen short of necessary numbers, the BJP has to rely on seats won by Chandrababu Naidu of TDP (16 seats) and Nitish Kumar of JD(U) (12 seats).