In New Delhi, posters heralding PM-designate Narendra Modi have adorned the cityscape in anticipation of his swearing-in ceremony set for Sunday.
This event signifies the onset of Modi’s unprecedented third successive tenure as India’s Prime Minister. Under Modi’s stewardship, the NDA will once again helm the central government. This occasion is notable as Narendra Modi stands as the sole leader post-Jawaharlal Nehru to secure a third consecutive term, having completed the full duration of each prior term.
Alongside Modi, his council of ministers will also pledge their oaths on the same day. Approximately 1,100 Delhi Police traffic personnel have been mobilized, with an advisory issued to the public regarding traffic flow and route modifications for the delegates, all orchestrated for PM-designate Modi’s oath-taking ceremony.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Traffic, Prashant Gautam, informed ANI, “Nearly 1,100 traffic officers have been assigned. They have been thoroughly briefed on all directives. We have conducted comprehensive rehearsals. A public advisory regarding traffic movements has been disseminated.”
“Meticulous arrangements have been crafted for the foreign dignitaries and heads of state attending the ceremony. Specific route provisions and a control zone have been established,” added the DCP. Several leaders and state heads from neighboring regions and the Indian Ocean sector have been invited as distinguished guests, underscoring India’s ‘Neighborhood First’ policy.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Saturday, “The President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe; President of Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu; Vice-President of Seychelles, Ahmed Afif; Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina; Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth; Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’; and Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay, have confirmed their attendance.”
Beyond the dignitaries and state heads, over 250 workers involved in the Parliament’s construction will assemble at BJP leader Mansukh Mandaviya’s residence at 3 pm before proceeding to the President’s house to witness the swearing-in of PM-designate Modi.
Highlighting the event’s significance, the MEA stated, “The participation of these leaders in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third consecutive term inauguration reflects the utmost importance India places on its ‘Neighborhood First’ policy and ‘SAGAR’ vision.”
The MEA also mentioned that, in addition to attending the swearing-in, the leaders will be present at a banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan later that evening. PM Modi’s invitations to neighboring leaders symbolize India’s sustained efforts to engage regionally. In 2014, he invited SAARC leaders, and in 2019, he included nations from the BIMSTEC group.
Conversely, Congress leader KC Venugopal stated that opposition leaders had not been informed by the government regarding PM-designate Modi’s swearing-in ceremony. The BJP secured 240 seats, and the NDA amassed 292 seats out of 543 Lok Sabha seats. Congress, competing as part of the INDIA bloc, along with its allies, managed to prevent BJP from achieving a standalone majority in the Lok Sabha.
Congress garnered 99 seats, Samajwadi Party secured 37 seats, Trinamool Congress obtained 29 seats, and DMK won 22 seats.