No Muslim Face in Modi-led NDA 3.0 Government

Summary: Narendra Modi recently began his third term as Prime Minister of India, accompanied by a team of 70 ministers, including 35 cabinet ministers. The BJP secured a coalition government after the 2024 General Election. However, the cabinet has been noted for its absence of Muslim representation, prompting concerns about inclusivity. This issue underscores the complexity of addressing diverse demographic and religious groups in India. Achieving a balanced and inclusive government requires understanding and involving all voices in decision-making. The BJP’s approach to Muslim voters and policies under Modi’s leadership has sparked differing viewpoints within the party, emphasizing the need for open dialogue and inclusive decision-making processes.

Narendra Modi’s Third Term: Challenges of Inclusivity and Representation

Total 71 Ministers

Tally: 35 Cabinet Ministers, 36 Ministers of State, and 5 Ministers of State (independent charge)

Narendra Modi’s Third Term as Prime Minister with 70 Other Ministers

Narendra Modi took the oath of office from the President of India, Smt. Draupadi Murmu for the third time as the Prime Minister of India, along with a team of 70 ministers, including 35 cabinet ministers. In the 2024 General Election, the BJP secured 240 seats, falling short of a single-party majority. However, the NDA secured a clear majority, allowing them to form a coalition government for a third consecutive tenure.

Narendra Modi’s Third Term with 70 Ministers: 35 Cabinet Ministers, 36 State Ministers

The following Press Communique was issued by the office of the President, who notified the names of the ministers in the Modi-led NDA Government.

RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN

PRESS COMMUNIQUE

The President of India has appointed Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi as the Prime Minister of India. Further, as advised by the Prime Minister, the President has appointed the following as members of the Council of Ministers:-

Cabinet Ministers

1. Shri Raj Nath Singh
2. Shri Amit Shah
3. Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari
4. Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda
5. Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
6. Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman
7. Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar
8. Shri Manohar Lal
9. Shri H. D. Kumaraswamy
10. Shri Piyush Goyal
11. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan
12. Shri Jitan Ram Manjhi
13. Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh
14. Shri Sarbananda Sonowal
15. Dr. Virendra Kumar
16. Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu
17. Shri Pralhad Joshi
18. Shri Jual Oram
19. Shri Giriraj Singh
20. Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw
21. Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia
22. Shri Bhupender Yadav
23. Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
24. Smt. Annpurna Devi
25. Shri Kiren Rijiju
26. Shri Hardeep Singh Puri
27. Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya
28. Shri G. Kishan Reddy
29. Shri Chirag Paswan
30. Shri C R Patil

Ministers of State (Independent Charge)

1. Rao Inderjit Singh
2. Dr. Jitendra Singh
3. Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal
4. Shri Jadhav Prataprao Ganpatrao
5. Shri Jayant Chaudhary

Ministers of State

1. Shri Jitin Prasada
2. Shri Shripad Yesso Naik
3. Shri Pankaj Chaudhary
4. Shri Krishan Pal
5. Shri Ramdas Athawale
6. Shri Ram Nath Thakur
7. Shri Nityanand Rai
8. Smt. Anupriya Patel
9. Shri V. Somanna
10. Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani
11. Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel
12. Sushri Sobha Karandlaje
13. Shri Kirtivardhan Singh
14. Shri B. L. Verma
15. Shri Shantanu Thakur
16. Shri Suresh Gopi
17. Dr. L. Murugan
18. Shri Ajay Tamta
19. Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar
20. Shri Kamlesh Paswan
21. Shri Bhagirath Choudhary
22. Shri Satish Chandra Dubey
23. Shri Sanjay Seth
24. Shri Ravneet Singh
25. Shri Durgadas Uikey
26. Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse
27. Shri Sukanta Majumdar
28. Smt. Savitri Thakur
29. Shri Tokhan Sahu
30. Shri Raj Bhushan Choudhary
31. Shri Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma
32. Shri Harsh Malhotra
33. Smt. Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya
34. Shri Murlidhar Mohol
35. Shri George Kurian
36. Shri Pabitra Margherita

The President administered the Oaths of Office and Secrecy to the above Members of the Council of Ministers at a ceremony held in the Rashtrapati Bhavan, today (09.06.2024).

For immediate release.
(Ajay Kumar Singh)

Press Secretary to the President
09.06.2024

Modi’s Governance and Equitable Representation: Insights into New Cabinet Dynamics

It’s important to note that the political landscape in India is influenced by a complex array of factors, including religious, cultural, and regional dynamics. The role of different voter groups including Muslims and their representation in governance is a multifaceted issue that should be approached with sensitivity and a comprehensive understanding of the country’s political context.

The composition of the new cabinet indeed reflects an absence of Muslim representation, raising questions about inclusivity in the government. It’s essential for the leadership to address these concerns and strive for a balanced and inclusive approach, in line with Modi`s “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” philosophy, to ensure the equitable representation and participation of all communities in the governance and decision-making processes. Achieving an inclusive and representative government requires a nuanced understanding of the diverse demographics and ensuring that all voices are heard and considered in the political landscape.

Modi may likely have now abandoned his old ‘Sabkasath’ slogun. Muslims got free Rations, Housing, Bank loans, and subsidised gas cylinders, till they never voted for the BJP. BJP lost the election in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and West Bengal. Muslims failed to cast a single vote for BJP in those States. BJP`s Rastrabadi Mulim Cadres failed to garner Muslim votes in general.

Last five years Modi tried to uplift the Pasmanda Muslims in India and tried to address their issues equitably, it appeared for the time being that a section of Muslims are with the Bharatiya Janata Party, especially the Muslim women after getting security in the form of Triple Talaque Act. Support of the Muslim women was visible in TV debates and Social Media.

It seems that there are contrasting viewpoints within the BJP regarding the approach towards Muslim voters and the policies implemented under Narendra Modi’s leadership. The Citizenship Amendment Law has sparked significant debate and differing opinions, reflecting the complexity of addressing the needs and concerns of various demographic and religious groups within India. This diverse range of perspectives highlights the importance of fostering open dialogue and inclusive decision-making processes within the party, particularly on sensitive issues that impact the nation’s social fabric and inclusive politics.

It’s important to acknowledge that the composition of the new cabinet indeed reflects an absence of Muslim representation. This raises questions about inclusivity in the government and its approach towards diverse voter groups. Ensuring equitable representation and participation of all communities in the governance and decision-making processes is vital for maintaining an inclusive representative democracy. Open dialogue and inclusive decision-making processes are essential for fostering a balanced and representative government.

By Tanmoy Bhattacharyya

Monday, 10th June 2024

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