On the photo: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, shows a letter by Indian President Droupadi Murmu, inviting him to form the Indian Government while delivering a speech after meeting the Indian President at the presidential official residence Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi, India. Narendra Modi will be sworn in as Indian Prime Minister on 09 June 2024. /EPA
Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, is scheduled to be sworn in for a third term on Sunday. This decision was made in response to the less-than-expected election results, which necessitated the assistance of coalition partners in order to govern.
The ceremony at the presidential palace on Sunday evening (1345 GMT) will be closely monitored as approximately 30 ministers-to-be also take the oath on the constitution, as Modi has not yet disclosed the composition of this cabinet.
Despite the fact that the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Modi has governed uncontested for the past decade, it was unable to replicate its previous two landslides this time around, which defied analysts' expectations and exit polls.
Instead, he was compelled to engage in rapid-fire negotiations with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), a 15-member coalition, which ensured that he would have the parliamentary support necessary to govern.
In an article published on his website on Sunday, Modi characterised the past few days as "extremely hectic."
The support of larger coalition parties has been contingent upon the provision of substantial concessions.
"We are in the midst of preparations of government formation," he indicated.
The Times of India reported that the BJP had attempted to "simplify" the demands of their partners, while the Hindustan Times described days of "hectic talks."
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the largest BJP ally with 16 seats, has reportedly secured four cabinet positions, according to widespread reports.
The Janata Dal (United), the second-largest party with 12 seats, has reached an agreement on two.
The previous cabinet of Modi consisted of 81 ministers.
However, the BJP's control over the four most potent positions of the interior, foreign, finance, and defence was widely reported in the Indian media.
The Times of India reported that "key ministries such as finance, defence, home, and external affairs are off-limits."
It implies that the new team will include senior Modi advisers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and Nitin Gadkari, who are the interior, defence, and transport ministers, respectively.
According to analysts, the coalition will alter the dynamics of parliamentary politics and compel Modi's BJP to adopt a more conciliatory stance, having previously been dominant.
Sajjan Kumar, the director of the Delhi-based political research organisation PRACCIS, stated, "The BJP has historically enjoyed confidence due to its substantial majority."
"The coalition will now force the BJP to engage in more consultation."
Zoya Hasan of Jawaharlal Nehru University warned that Modi may be "meeting his match" in the "crafty politicians" of the TDP's Chandrababu Naidu and JD(U)'s Nitish Kumar, stating that he confronted potential challenges ahead.
Thousands of military and police were deployed in the capital city of New Delhi on Sunday as regional leaders arrived, resulting in heightened security.
Leaders from Bhutan, Nepal, and the Maldives, in addition to Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, are expected to attend the ceremony and the subsequent state banquet..
The absence of a senior leader from neighbouring rivals China and Pakistan is particularly noteworthy.
Before paying his respects at the national war memorial, Modi deposited flowers at the memorial to the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, on Sunday.
Rahul Gandhi, Modi's principal adversary, was selected to serve as the opposition's leader in parliament on Saturday. Gandhi defied analysts' predictions by contributing to the Congress party's nearly twofold increase in its parliamentary representation.
It was the most successful outcome for Congress since Modi's ascension to power a decade ago, salvaging the party from the political wilderness.
On Saturday, the Congress leadership unanimously resolved to endorse Gandhi's election as India's official opposition leader, a position that had been vacant since 2014.
Gandhi is a descendant of the dynasty that dominated Indian politics for decades. He is the son, grandson, and great-grandson of former prime ministers, starting with Jawaharlal Nehru, the independence leader.
Local media reports indicate that he will be acknowledged as India's official opposition leader when the new parliament convenes, potentially as early as next week, if he is elected as anticipated.
According to parliamentary regulations, the opposition head must originate from a party that holds at least 10% of the seats in the 543-seat lower house.
Congress -- which was once the dominant party in India -- failed to meet the threshold after two disastrous election results, resulting in the position remaining vacant for a decade. |BGNES
