Regional equations, assembly polls to shape cabinet?

Meeting regional aspirations, eye on future assembly polls and putting forward a fighting force of next generation of BJP will be the key components that will weigh on the mind of Prime Minister Narendra Modi when his Cabinet takes oath of office on Thursday.

Amid the buzz that BJP president Amit Shah is likely to hold a key portfolio, he had a long meeting with the Prime Minister at his residence 7 Lok Kalyan Marg.

Since a number of senior leaders from the BJP are already out, having either not contested Lok Sabha polls or on account of crossing the age bar, the average age of the Cabinet is expected to come down in sync with the demography turning younger.

Since BJP has performed big in election-bound states Bihar (39 of 40), West Bengal (18 of 42 Lok Sabha), Maharashtra (41 of 48—23 by BJP, 18 by Shiv Sena seats, Haryana (all 10), Delhi (all 07), there are indications that the representation in the Union Cabinet from these states could substantially go up.

Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand go to polls this year while Delhi goes to polls early next year. Elections are due in Bihar in 2020 and in West Bengal in 2021.

Despite winning 300 plus seats on its own, Modi has repeatedly talked about the intent to keep the coalition together. NDA allies are likely to get some key portfolios as well.

Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan’s party LJP, which won all six seats it contested is hoping for a 'bigger portfolio' this time for Paswan, who is currently Union Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs.

Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), which was not accommodated in the Council of Ministers of the outgoing Modi dispensation, despite having joined back the NDA in 2017, is hopeful of at least two portfolios this time, after winning 16 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar.

Former finance minister Arun Jaitley's health seems to be in trouble and he may not be inducted into the cabinet. Names of Shah and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal are doing rounds for Finance Ministry, in case Jaitley is not repeated.

But the real dilemma in the BJP is whether it can really spare party chief Amit Shah who has turned the BJP into a giant election-wining machinery. Names of Union Ministers J P Nadda and Dharmendra Pradhan are seen as the alternative but a big section in the party feels there is actually no alternative to Shah as party chief.

Union Ministers Sushma Swaraj, Uma Bharati and Kalraj Mishra did not contest elections this time. Of this, chances of Swaraj staging a comeback cannot be ruled out as she is believed to have handled her ministry efficiently.

Giant killer Smriti Irani could land with a plum portfolio, unless the party decides to utilise her combative oratorical and organisation skills to strengthen the party instead.