Modi's allies want funds, cabinet jobs as India coalition talks begin

FILE PHOTO: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures, at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in New Delhi, India, June 4, 2024. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi/File Photo

NEW DELHI/HYDERABAD (Reuters) -Regional parties in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's alliance demanded on Thursday more funds for their states and federal cabinet positions as negotiations began on forming a new coalition government, alliance leaders and sources said.

Modi was named leader of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Wednesday, after his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost its outright majority in India's parliamentary election and found itself reliant on support from regional parties - mainly the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal (United).