Narendra Damodardas Modi, leader of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), was sworn in for his third consecutive term as the Prime Minister of India on Sunday, June 9, 2024. The ceremony took place at 7:15 pm at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi, with President Droupadi Murmu officiating the oath-taking. Alongside PM Modi, several prominent leaders were also sworn in as cabinet ministers and Ministers of State.
Modi 3.0: Coalition Government and Diverse Representation
From Single-Party Dominance to Coalition Leadership
With the BJP losing its clear majority in the Lok Sabha, PM Modi will now head a coalition government, which is a major shift. The BJP won 240 seats, but fell short of the 272 majority needed to lead the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which is led by the party. The NDA secured 293 seats. The party’s ten-year single-party domination comes to an end with this.
Formation of the 72-Strong Council of Ministers
The new Council of Ministers reflects the spirit of ‘coalition dharma,’ with 72 members, including 11 from NDA partners. The Council includes 30 Cabinet Ministers, 5 Ministers of State with Independent Charge, and 36 Ministers of State. Portfolio assignments will be disclosed later.
Emphasis on Social Inclusivity
The Council showcases broad social representation, with 27 Other Backward Classes (OBC), ten Scheduled Castes (SC), five Scheduled Tribes (ST), and five minority community members. A record 18 senior ministers will lead major ministries.
Grand Oath-Taking Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan
The swearing-in ceremony took place on the lawns of Rashtrapati Bhavan, where President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Modi and his Council of Ministers. The event was attended by 8,000 guests, including leaders from neighboring countries and the Indian Ocean Region such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal, Mauritius, and Seychelles. Remarkably, members of the transgender community, laborers, and sanitation workers involved in the construction of the new Parliament building were also invited.
Key Figures and Coalition Dynamics
PM Modi met with NDA leaders a few hours prior to the event; several of them are anticipated to be appointed as important ministers. Among the notable individuals were Jyotiraditya Scindia, Ashwini Vaishnaw, S. Jaishankar, Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal, and Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Although their precise positions in the Cabinet are yet unknown, leaders from the NDA’s partner parties, including Rajiv Ranjan Singh (JDU), Jitan Ram Manjhi (HAM), Jayant Chaudhary (RLD), HD Kumaraswamy (JDS), and Chirag Paswan (LJP Ram Vilas), were also present.
Opposition Participation
As Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge fulfilled his “constitutional duty” by attending the event. However, despite being invited, a number of opposition figures, including those from the Left and the Trinamool Congress, decided not to take part.
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