India’s newly elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to take the oath of office today, marking his third consecutive term in the role. This event will place Modi alongside Jawaharlal Nehru, the only other Indian Prime Minister to have served three consecutive terms.
Following the 18th Lok Sabha elections, the Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a majority coalition in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) with 292 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha. The BJP alone won 240 seats, while the NDA coalition enabled Modi’s return to power.
The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for 7:15 PM at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Alongside Modi, 40 ministers are expected to take the oath. This group may include 18 MPs from the 14 NDA partners, with potential cabinet ministers from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Janata Dal (United) (JDU), and Shiv Sena.
International dignitaries from seven countries, including Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius, and Bhutan, will attend the ceremony. Notably absent will be the heads of state from China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
Modi’s first term began in 2014 with a 46-member cabinet, which expanded to 71 ministers. His second term in 2019 started with 58 ministers, later increasing to 72. According to Article 75 of the Indian Constitution, the number of ministers in the Council of Ministers should not exceed 81 percent of the total number of Lok Sabha members, which is 543.
As Modi prepares to take office again, his leadership continues to shape the political landscape of India, promising further developments in the country’s governance and policy direction.
09th Jun 2024
Comments