JD(S) Likely To Get One Cabinet Berth In New NDA Govt, Eyes On Agriculture Portfolio For Kumaraswamy

The Lok Sabha election results have lifted the spirits of the Janata Dal (Secular), which is eyeing a cabinet berth in the Modi 3.0. BJP and JD(S) fought the Lok Sabha elections together as National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies in Karnataka, which has a total of 28 seats. BJP won 17 seats and JD(S) two.

“We haven’t placed any specific demand, we will be a dignified ally,” party sources told CNN News18.

The JD(S) leadership is hoping that former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy will be given the agriculture or any other related portfolio as the party’s vote base is largely in rural areas, they added.

Earlier on Wednesday, Kumaraswamy himself hinted that his party was interested in the Agriculture portfolio in the new NDA Government.

JD(S), headed by his father and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, joined the NDA last year.

Asked about JD(S)’ “demands” ahead of government formation, he said: “we don’t have any such demand. Our priority is the resolution of issues concerning Karnataka that have been there for a long from the Centre. About giving representation (Cabinet berth) to Karnataka at the Centre, Narendra Modi will decide.”

On his Ministerial aspirations, Kumaraswamy said the NDA leadership will decide. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday won the Mandya seat with a massive margin.

“Let’s speak about it when the time comes. Delhi leaders know what is the appropriate decision that needs to be taken for the situation there (in Karnataka). They will decide,” he said.

Regarding speculation in some quarters that he will be the Agriculture Minister, with a similar desire being expressed by several other JD(S) leaders, he acknowledged that his party’s interest is in the Agriculture Department, “Let’s see what decisions will happen.”

“Our party’s interest is in the Agriculture department. Our fight since the beginning has been towards doing good for the farming community,” Kumaraswamy, who arrived in New Delhi to attend today’s NDA meeting, told reporters yesterday.

Earlier during campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections also, Kumaraswamy had made no secret of his interest in holding the Agriculture portfolio in the event of the NDA returning to power at the Centre.

According to the final results of Lok Sabha polls declared, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is poised to form the government for a third consecutive term with the BJP-led NDA getting a majority in the Lok Sabha.