Narendra Modi, the charismatic leader of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), is poised to take the oath of office as Prime Minister for an unprecedented third consecutive term on June 8th. This historic milestone follows the NDA's triumph in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, where it narrowly surpassed the majority mark, capturing 292 seats.
President Droupadi Murmu has formally accepted Modi's resignation as Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers. She has simultaneously requested Modi to continue in his role until the new government assumes office.
Should the NDA proceed with government formation, Modi would become the second Indian leader to hold the esteemed office for three consecutive terms, a feat previously achieved only by India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
In preparation for this momentous occasion, Modi convened a high-level meeting of the Union Cabinet to assess the Lok Sabha election results and discuss the intricacies of forming the next government. This meeting, held at the Prime Minister's residence, marked the final gathering of the Modi 2.0 Cabinet and Council of Ministers.
In parallel, senior leaders of the NDA, representing its diverse political constituents, converged in Delhi for a pivotal meeting scheduled for 4 pm. The NDA leadership is expected to meticulously deliberate on the nuances of government formation.
Among the attendees are Nitish Kumar, the stalwart JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister, and Chandrababu Naidu, the Telugu Desam Party president poised to helm the reins of Andhra Pradesh as its next Chief Minister.
Sources privy to the developments reveal that the BJP's allies have proactively submitted their requests for representation in the upcoming Modi 3.0 Cabinet. The JD(U) has conveyed its aspiration for three Cabinet positions, while the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena has expressed its desire for one Cabinet berth and two MoS positions.
The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), led by Chirag Paswan, is anticipated to advocate for one Cabinet position and one state minister role. Similarly, HAM(S) chief Jitam Ram Manjhi has expressed his interest in a Cabinet post in the new government.
