New Delhi, June 11, 2024 - The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is facing internal unrest as allies express dissatisfaction over cabinet appointments. Within 24 hours of the new cabinet taking oath, prominent NDA members, including the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), voiced their grievances regarding the distribution of ministerial positions.

On Monday, the Shiv Sena expressed disappointment over not securing a full ministerial position in the NDA cabinet. Shiv Sena Chief Whip Srirang Burne highlighted the disproportionate allocation of ministerial posts, noting that despite their seven Lok Sabha seats, they only received a minister of state with independent charge. Burne compared this to the allocations for other allies, such as Chirag Paswan's party receiving five posts, Jitan Ram Manji’s party one, and the Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS) receiving two posts, despite having fewer seats.

"We expected at least one full minister," Burne stated, underscoring the party's long-standing alliance with the BJP and their expectations based on seat count.

Similarly, the NCP of Maharashtra expressed anger over the lack of a full ministerial position. NCP chief Ajit Pawar rejected the offer of a state minister position, demanding a full cabinet berth instead. The NCP, which won four seats in the recent elections, joined other allies in expressing frustration over the allocation process.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new cabinet includes 30 full ministers and 41 state ministers, with 11 posts allocated to alliance partners. However, the distribution has led to dissatisfaction among several allies who feel underrepresented given their electoral contributions.

In the recent elections, the BJP-led NDA secured 292 out of 543 seats, with the BJP alone winning 240 seats. This marks a decline from previous elections, where the BJP secured 272 seats in 2014 and 303 seats in 2019, enabling them to form a single-party majority government. The reduced majority has made the BJP more dependent on coalition partners, leading to tougher negotiations over cabinet posts.

The Congress-led India Alliance won 233 seats, with Congress alone securing 99 seats. Rahul Gandhi has been elected as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, reflecting the significant gains made by the opposition.

The internal discontent within the NDA highlights the challenges Prime Minister Modi faces in managing coalition dynamics amid a more fragmented parliamentary composition. As the new government begins its term, balancing the demands of alliance partners will be crucial for maintaining stability and pursuing its legislative agenda.