BJP, TDP And JDU All Want ED Ministry In Modi 3.0 Cabinet: Who Will Make the Cut In New Modi Sarkar?

As Narendra Modi prepares to take oath as Prime Minister for the third time, all eyes are on which MPs-elect from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will make the final cut into his Cabinet and Council of Ministers. The much-anticipated cabinet reshuffle is expected to be a delicate balancing act, with Modi needing to accommodate his coalition allies while adhering to the 81-member limit.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to retain control over key ministries such as home, finance, defence, and external affairs, while aiming to strike a balance between continuity and new faces. The party is also expected to maintain control over other significant ministries like railways, road transport, law, information technology, and education.

One of the key areas of interest is the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which falls under the Department of Revenue in the Ministry of Finance. Reports suggest that the BJP, along with its coalition partners, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal (United) (JDU), are all keenly interested in this ministry.

According to reports, the TDP has secured four cabinet positions, while the JDU has negotiated for two. In Modi's previous cabinet, there were 81 ministers, and it is likely that the same number will be maintained this time around.

Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi met potential ministers at his residence over a cup of tea later this evening. Prominent persons present at the meeting included Amit Shah, S Jaishankar, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, Nitin Gadkari, Dharmendra Pradhan, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Piyush Goyal and others. Those present at the meeting are expected to find place in the Modi cabinet.

Notably, BJP leader and three-time former Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu attended the meeting despite not winning the Ludhiana seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This move has raised eyebrows among political analysts, who are trying to decipher the implications of Bittu's inclusion.