NEW DELHI: India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi was inaugurated on Sunday for a third term, following an election that delivered results below expectations for his party, making him reliant on coalition partners to form a government.
During a formal ceremony, Modi, surrounded by officials from his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and leaders from his coalition partners, pledged to “bear true allegiance to the constitution of India.”
Election Outcome and Coalition Formation
The BJP, which had ruled outright for the past decade, failed to secure a third consecutive landslide victory. This outcome defied analysts’ predictions and exit polls. As a result, Modi had to engage in rapid negotiations with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), a coalition of 15 parties, to secure the parliamentary majority needed to govern.
Inauguration Ceremony
The inauguration ceremony took place at the presidential palace, where honor guards lined the steps and a military brass band played. Modi, dressed in a white kurta and trousers, was the first to take the oath of office, administered by President Droupadi Murmu, in front of several thousand attendees.
Cabinet Formation and Key Figures
The ceremony was closely watched for indications of the new cabinet, with top BJP officials Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, and Nitin Gadkari—defense, interior, and transport ministers in the previous government—sworn in immediately after Modi. Larger coalition parties are demanding significant concessions for their support, making the cabinet formation process a delicate balancing act.
High-Profile Attendees
The event was attended by a diverse crowd, including BJP loyalists, South Asian leaders, Bollywood celebrities like Shahrukh Khan, and billionaire tycoons Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, both key allies of Modi.
Modi’s Busy Preparations
In an article published on his website ahead of the ceremony, Modi described the days leading up to his swearing-in as “very busy,” focusing on the preparations for forming the new government.
With Modi’s formal assumption of power, the focus now shifts to how his government will navigate the complexities of coalition politics and address the expectations of both his supporters and coalition partners.
