In a recent development, the JD(U) on Thursday announced that it won’t be joining the cabinet of the Modi government. The announcement came just before the swearing-in ceremony was about to begin at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. JDU chief Nitish Kumar said that inclusion of just 1 JDU legislator in the cabinet would have meant symbolic participation and that he has informed the BJP that they don’t need it.
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar: They wanted only 1 person from JDU in the cabinet, so it would have been just a symbolic participation.We informed them that it is ok we don’t need it. It is not a big issue, we are fully in NDA and not upset at all.We are working together,no confusion. pic.twitter.com/AsDa8EUnUN
— ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2019
However, clearing the air of suspicion, Kumar reiterated that his party is still a member of the NDA and there is no resentment for the cabinet berths. According to the sources, JDU was expecting at least 3 cabinet berths but the BJP’s offer of just 1 cabinet position was simply unpalatable for them. They were also reportedly unhappy with the portfolio offered to them. Initially, Rajya Sabha member RCP Singh was homed in on but Nitish Kumar’s last-minute negotiations with the BJP top brass didn’t yield the intended results.
JDU fought the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections in Bihar in coalition with BJP and Ramvilas Paswan’s LJP. JDU has sent 17 MPs to the new Lok Sabha and BJP has sent 16 from Bihar, along with LJP which has sent 6 MPs.
