Decoding Cabinet Roles: What’s Really Happening?

Narendra Modi’s triumphant return as India’s Prime Minister for an unprecedented third term marks a historic chapter in the electoral history of Bharat. The 18th Lok Sabha elections concluded with Modi, once again, at the helm of the country’s leadership.

Contrary to the previous victories of last two terms, the BJP did not achieve a standalone majority this time, falling short of their ambitious "abki baar 400 paar" campaign . This shift forces PM Modi to govern within the angle of a coalition, a stark contrast from the party’s earlier independent dominion.

On June 10, Modi allocated portfolios among his 71-member Council of Ministers. The composition includes 30 Cabinet Ministers, 5 Ministers of State with Independent Charge, and 36 Ministers of State[MoS]. This strategic allocation was publicly disclosed post the inaugural Union Cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister’s residence.

Despite the coalition's dynamics, the Modi 3.0 administration predominantly retains familiar faces in key roles, emphasizing stability and continuity. Prominent figures from the BJP, such as Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, and S. Jaishankar continue their stewardship over the Home, Defence, Finance, and External Affairs ministries respectively.

This approach of continuing the top 4 ministries with the same ministers who previously held them, addresses common man's skepticism regarding the coalition's stability, at the same time, countering opposition narratives about potential volatility due to the increased bargaining power of smaller allying partners like TDP and JD[U] but 61 BJP ministers have been appointed whereas 2 from TDP, 2 from JD[U] and 6 to other allies . The portfolio allocation also, suggests a resolute move to maintain a coherent governance structure reminiscent of the previous NDA administration.

Retained and Reliable: Modi’s Cabinet Continuity -

Beyond the top four ministries of Home, Defence, Finance, and External Affairs, other notable reappointments have been confirmed. However, the reappointment of Nirmala Sitaraman has been perceived negatively by the public as people expected a new face for the finance department which would steer the finance policy of the nation into a new direction. Some speculated Piyush Goyal, however were left disappointed.

Dharmendra Pradhan continues to lead the Ministry of Education, a role he has held since 2021, focusing on implementing the National Education Policy and reforming the educational landscape in India.

Bhupender Yadav retains the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Nitin Gadkari retains his position as the Minister of Road Transport and Highways. His tenure has been marked by significant infrastructure projects with data signifying more than 200,00 km of road being laid out during his tenure, and his reappointment signals ongoing momentum in modernising India’s transportation network.

Piyush Goyal continues as the Minister of Commerce and Industry, representing Mumbai North. His role is vital in steering India’s trade policies and economic strategies on the global stage, and his retention ensures stability in this essential sector.

Ashwini Vaishnaw now, holds on to his portfolio as the Minister of Railways, crucial for overseeing the nation's vast railway network. Additionally, he has been entrusted with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and retains the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, reflecting the prime minister's confidence in his multifaceted leadership. The allocation of multiple departments to the former IAS Officer shows the entrusted confidence and satisfaction with his 3-year tenure as railway minister, with his major achievement being the Vande Bharat Trains and the record-breaking number of tracks being laid out.

Hardeep Singh Puri continues to oversee the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. His role is pivotal in navigating the complexities of India’s energy sector, particularly in the volatile global oil market.

Sarbananda Sonowal took charge of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.

Arjun Ram Meghwal retained independent charge of Minister of State for Law and Justice.

Cabinet Swapments and New Ministers in Modi 3.0 -

In Modi 3.0, several changes have been made to the Cabinet, with key ministers swapping portfolios and new faces entering the government.

JP Nadda, BJP's chief, now leads the Ministry of Health, however AAYUSH department which is attached to the health sector has not been given to Nadda, while Mansukh Mandaviya transitions to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, also taking on the Sports Ministry.

Annpurna Devi, previously MoS in the Ministry of Education, is now the Minister of Women and Child Development, replacing Smriti Irani, who lost elections to KL Sharma, first time MP and gandhi-family loyalist

Jyotiraditya Scindia, representing Guna, Madhya Pradesh, assumes the Ministry of Telecommunication, while Ram Mohan Naidu of TDP takes over Civil Aviation. Scindia, also assumes the position of Minister of Development of North Eastern Region.

Pralhad Joshi, earler from Parliamentary Affairs, expands his responsibilities to include Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and New and Renewable Energy.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan is now the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, replacing Arjun Munda. Many of the veteran journalists have confirmed the story that when SANGH was looking for a generational change after MODI took over in 2014, Shivraj was given the offer to take over the Agricultural ministry; however, he denied and expressed a desire to remain in Bhopal. Coming to the point, the appointment silences all the speculation which deemed Mamaji as a probable candidate for the role of party president since it looks unlikely that he would be given a double role of both cabinet ministership in government and a crucial role in the organization as president.

The agriculture ministry has become a significant sector in the Narendra Modi administration, mainly due to the conflict with farmers after the 2020 demonstrations against the infamous three farm laws. Farmer dissatisfaction is seen as a factor in BJP's underperformance in states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab - this will put Shivraj Singh Chauhan in a unique and difficult position to be as the minister.

Shivraj Singh has also been given Ministry of Rural Development which has almost equal budget as Home Affairs. Both departments are deemed to be heavyweights in terms of budget allocation, output expected and impact.

Kiren Rijiju becomes the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs which is crucial role as compared to 2019 since, effective communication and effective consonance with other partners and opposition becomes cardinal for passing legislations and regulating the parliamentarians in the foavour of government. Additionally, appointed to takes on the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

Manohar Lal Khattar, former Haryana Chief Minister and first-time MP, now oversees the Ministry of Power and Housing and Urban Affairs.

CR Paatil, the BJP MP representing Navsari and the current BJP Gujarat state president, has been designated as the Minister of Jal Shakti. CR Paatil's appointment comes as a promotion, Paatil, a four-time MP and the BJP's Gujarat state president, played a important role in the party's historic win in the 2022 assembly elections, where the BJP secured 156 out of 182 seats. He is highly credited for this impressive feat. Additionally, Paatil has been instrumental in assisting Prime Minister Narendra Modi by overseeing and executing his directives in [his constituency] Varanasi, effectively working as the PM's proxy in his constituency.

Positions to Allying Partners -

Chirag Paswan, representing Lok Jan Shakti (Paswan), assumes the Ministry of Food Processing, a position previously held by his father, Ram Vilas Paswan.

Lalan Singh, an MP from JD(U) and a close associate of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has been appointed as the Minister of Panchayati Raj and Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying.

Jitan Ram Manjhi, from Hindustani Awam Morcha, now oversees the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises.

HD Kumaraswamy, the MP from Janata Dal (Secular), has been entrusted with the Ministry of Heavy Industries.

Absentees from Cabinet -

The absence of Anurag Thakur from the cabinet list came as a huge surprise to the people; however, it is possible that he may assume an important organizational role.

Smriti Irani lost the election in Amethi. It is possible that she would be given an organizational role as the national general secretary, and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the richest electoral candidate, lost the election to Shashi Tharoor. Both of them have not been accommodated in the council of ministers.

Other notable exclusions include Meenakshi Lekhi and Narayan Rane.

Parshottam Rupala, MP from Rajkot, who during the 2024 poll campaign triggered the RAJPUT community with his harsh opinion on Rajput rulers, stating that they surrendered to the colonial forces, marking their superiority and making themselves subservient to their demonic rule. The Rajput community demanded his ticket to be denied by the BJP high command. However, they did not succeed, and Rupala eventually won the election but was not accommodated in the cabinet list. This absence from the role gives a political and social message to the Rajput community and ultimately calmed the anger of the community.

Regional representation in Modi Government 3.0 -

The Modi 3.0 Cabinet is clearly a strategic move, looking beyond mere continuity towards the upcoming Assembly elections in key states and Union Territories. With polls approaching in regions like Bihar, Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand, and Jammu and Kashmir, the Cabinet appointments reflect the BJP's focused effort to strengthen its electoral base in assembly polls.

The composition of the Cabinet is a clear message that while the BJP may not have reached the majority mark in the recent national elections, it is strategically positioning itself for the upcoming state elections. By political representation from key electoral states, the party is laying the groundwork to consolidate its power and influence across the country.

Conclusion -

The continuation of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), which includes the top four ministries—Home Affairs, Finance, Defence, and External Affairs—under the leadership of the Prime Minister, signifies that while the central leadership of the BJP may have concerns about the organization's machinery, however there is a sense of contentment with the government's structure and functioning, as evidenced by the reappointment of several ministers.

Each important and crucial ministry is currently held by BJP ministers. This arrangement indicates that allied parties do not hold significant positions in the decision-making processes of national importance. The composition of the cabinet symbolizes Prime Minister Modi’s complete control over the legislative body despite the alliance.

Top performers have been incentivised with additional charges and in contrast to 2014 and 2019 list, this cabinet looks more experienced and mature.

The number of members in the Council of Ministers has increased significantly over the years. In 2014, there were 45 members, which rose to 64 in 2019, and has now reached 72. This expansion reflects the complexity of governance under the current administration of alliance politics - but one way of looking at this increased number of ministers is the further decentralization of power.

In conclusion, currently, the BJP holds 240 Lok Sabha seats, which is 32 seats short of a majority on its own. In my opinion, within the next year, the BJP will likely achieve this majority through defections from other parties. Consequently, the overall seat count for the NDA is predicted to surpass 340+.