The Janata Dal United and the Lok Janshakti Party on Thursday publicly sought a review of the Agnipath scheme of temporary military recruitments, providing an early glimpse of the coalition pressures the new Narendra Modi government is expected to face.
The demand from the two Bihar parties comes at a time when the BJP — its government now dependent on allies’ support — is already grappling with hard bargaining by coalition partners for key portfolios and financial packages for their states.
Modi’s swearing-in for a third term as Prime Minister has been postponed from Saturday to Sunday evening, BJP insiders said, with political observers citing the allies’ bid for their pound of flesh as a possible reason.
BJP leaders, however, attributed the deferment to a need to accommodate the world leaders invited to the ceremony.
Apart from seeking a rethink on the controversial Agnipath scheme, which the INDIA bloc had promised to scrap the moment it came to power, the JDU and the LJP have also advocated a countrywide caste census — another INDIA pledge.
Bihar factor
Bihar — to which the JDU and the LJP belong — was among the first states to witness violent protests against the Agnipath scheme, with trains torched and railway services affected for days.
“Sections of voters were upset at the Agnipath scheme; and so our party wants the doubts raised by the public discussed in detail and removed,” JDU spokesperson K.C. Tyagi told reporters.
Hours later, LJP chief Chirag Paswan said he too favoured a “review” of the Agnipath scheme. He added that a caste census be undertaken across the country, a demand the JDU had already pressed.
Youths struggling with joblessness across the country have widely condemned the Agnipath scheme, under which recruits are appointed to the armed forces for only four years, after which most of them are to be discharged without pension or benefits. Military veterans have warned that the scheme would destroy the forces’ professionalism and morale.
Ally pressure to reconsider the scheme represents an additional challenge for the BJP leadership when it is in the thick of negotiations with NDA partners like Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party, which is keen on securing heavy-ticket ministries along with the Lok Sabha Speaker’s post.
With 16 MPs, the Desam is the largest NDA ally, followed by the JDU with 12 MPs.
BJP insiders have ruled out handing over any of the top four ministries — home, finance, defence and external affairs — to allies. However, Desam sources said Naidu was eyeing the finance portfolio to ensure prompt clearance for a financial package to develop Amaravati as the new capital of Andhra Pradesh, and for “special category” status to the state.
“The home, finance, defence and foreign ministries will remain with us,” a BJP leader said, while indicating that the Desam’s demand for the Speaker’s post could be considered.
He said Naidu’s party could be given ministries like telecom & information technology and urban development, appearing confident that it would be acceptable to the southern ally.
BJP managers said a formula of one ministry for every four MPs was being adopted, and Naidu would therefore be offered four ministries for his 16 MPs. However, they added, this number could be cut down if the Desam is given the Speaker’s post.
Going by the same formula, the JDU could get three ministries and the LJP, one.
Senior BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and J.P. Nadda, the party president, have been assigned the job of negotiating with the allies.
A series of meetings between BJP and RSS leaders took place at Nadda’s home on Thursday, where government formation was discussed along with the election of a new party president, sources said. Nadda’s already extended term expires this month.
Guest list
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal are among the foreign dignitaries expected at Modi’s swearing-in, BJP leaders said. There has been no official confirmation of their participation.
