News Mania Desk/ Agnibeena Ghosh/9th June 2024
The swearing-in ceremony for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Council of Ministers, following the 2024 General Elections, is scheduled for June 9, 2024. Distinguished leaders from India’s neighboring countries and the Indian Ocean region have been invited to attend this significant event.
Leaders who have accepted the invitation include Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, Vice-President of Seychelles Ahmed Afif, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, and Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay. These leaders will not only witness the swearing-in ceremony but also attend a banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan the same evening.
Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi is set to take the oath for a third consecutive term, continuing his leadership after two terms in which the BJP enjoyed a majority. This term marks a significant achievement, equalling the record of the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who led the country after winning the 1952, 1957, and 1962 elections. Modi, at 73, continues to be a pivotal figure in Indian politics, steering the BJP-led coalition government.
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is set to see its Lok Sabha members, K Ram Mohan Naidu and Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, inducted into the Union Cabinet. According to former TDP MP Galla Jayadev’s post on X, Naidu will take a cabinet minister position while Pemmasani will be appointed as a Minister of State. This inclusion reflects the BJP’s strategy of consulting and integrating its allies into the governance framework.
Despite retaining power, the BJP saw a surprising drop in its seat count, falling from 303 to 240, which is below the majority mark of 272. This outcome prompted significant consultations among senior BJP leaders such as Union ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, and party president J P Nadda, with key allies including TDP’s N Chandrababu Naidu, JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar, and Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde to finalize the coalition government’s structure.
High-profile portfolios such as Home, Finance, Defence, and External Affairs are expected to remain with the BJP, while allies may receive five to eight cabinet berths. Key figures like Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh are expected to retain their positions. Additionally, former chief ministers who won Lok Sabha seats, such as Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Basavaraj Bommai, Manohar Lal Khattar, and Sarbananda Sonowal, are strong contenders for cabinet positions.
Other allies expected to join the government include Ram Mohan Naidu from TDP, Lalan Singh, Sanjay Jha, and Ram Nath Thakur from JD(U), and Chirag Paswan from Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). There is speculation that either Singh or Jha will be accommodated from the JD(U) quota.
The ceremony will also highlight India’s diplomatic efforts and the significance of its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and ‘SAGAR’ vision. Inviting regional leaders underscores the importance India places on fostering strong relations with its neighbors.
