Narendra Modi takes oath for a historic third term as Prime Minister of India
On Sunday, June 9, Narendra Modi was sworn in for his third consecutive term as the Prime Minister of India at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. This historic event saw the inclusion of 72 ministers, reflecting the diverse and broad-based coalition government that Modi will be heading this time.
The ceremony took place on the lawns of Rashtrapati Bhavan, with President Droupadi Murmu administering the oath of office. Approximately 8,000 guests, including leaders from neighboring countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal, Mauritius, and Seychelles, attended the event.
Narendra Modi, at 73, joins the ranks of Jawaharlal Nehru by being elected for a third straight term. This marks a significant achievement in Indian political history. For the first time, Modi will be leading a coalition government after the BJP did not secure an outright majority in the Lok Sabha. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured 293 seats, with the BJP itself winning 240 seats.
The new Council of Ministers includes 30 Cabinet Ministers, 5 Ministers of State with Independent Charge, and 36 Ministers of State. The council features broad representation, including 27 Other Backward Classes (OBC), 10 Scheduled Castes (SC), 5 Scheduled Tribes (ST), and 5 minorities.
The Modi 3.0 cabinet includes prominent BJP leaders such as Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, S Jaishankar, Nirmala Sitharaman, Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, and many others. Additionally, key allies from NDA partners like Chirag Paswan, HD Kumaraswamy, Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Jayant Chaudhary have also been included.
New entrants include BJP chief JP Nadda, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Notably, Ravneet Singh Bittu, who lost in Ludhiana, also secured a ministerial berth.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge attended the ceremony, emphasising his constitutional duty as Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. However, several opposition leaders from parties like the Trinamool Congress and the Left chose not to attend despite invitations.
The BJP's inability to secure a majority on its own marks a shift from its previous decade-long dominance. This necessitates a more collaborative approach within the coalition government.
With Narendra Modi at the helm for another five years, India is poised for significant political and developmental changes. The broad representation in the new cabinet suggests a focus on inclusive governance, while the coalition dynamics will likely influence the legislative agenda.
