Historic Oath: Modi Begins Third Term as Prime Minister
On a momentous Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with 72 ministerial appointees, took the oath of office at the stately Rashtrapati Bhavan. This historic swearing-in ceremony marked a remarkable milestone for the 73-year-old leader, equaling the electoral feat achieved by India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who served three consecutive terms.
Coalition Accord: Broad Representation and Debuts
In accordance with the principles of coalition governance, the newly appointed Council of Ministers comprised a diverse array of 72 members, including 11 from partner parties within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The Modi 3.0 administration will comprise a robust contingent of 30 Cabinet Ministers, 5 Ministers of State with Independent Charge, and 36 Ministers of State. The distribution of portfolios will be announced at a later date.
Affirming their commitment to inclusive governance, the Council of Ministers boasts a broad representation of India's diverse social fabric. It includes 27 members from Other Backward Classes (OBC), 10 from Scheduled Castes (SC), 5 from Scheduled Tribes (ST), and 5 from minority communities. Significantly, a record 18 senior ministers will be entrusted with leading major ministries.
The swearing-in ceremony also witnessed the induction of prominent new faces. Joining Prime Minister Modi's cabinet were former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, six-term Sundargarh MP Jual Oram, BJP Gujarat unit chief CR Patil, and Jitin Prasada, a former Cabinet Minister in Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, former Karnataka minister V Somanna was sworn in as a Minister of State.
Familiar Faces Return with Renewed Mandate
Several familiar faces from the previous administration made their return in Modi 3.0, including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, S Jaishankar, Nirmala Sitharaman, Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, Pralhad Joshi, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Kiren Rijiju, Dharmendra Pradhan, Sarbananda Sonowal, Bhupender Yadav, Giriraj Singh, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and G Kishan Reddy.
NDA Allies Secure Ministerial Berths
The NDA's allies were also well-represented in the new cabinet. Among them were Chirag Paswan, chief of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), HD Kumaraswamy from the Janata Dal (Secular), Jitan Ram Manjhi of the Hindustani Awam Morcha, Lalan Singh from the Janata Dal (United), and TDP MP Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu.
Notable Omissions
While the appointment of new ministers drew much attention, certain notable names were conspicuously absent from the new Cabinet. Among them were former ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, and Harsh Vardhan.
A Grand Affair with Global Presence
The swearing-in ceremony, held on the expansive lawns of Rashtrapati Bhavan, was a grand affair attended by an estimated 8,000 guests. Among them were leaders from neighboring nations in the Indian Ocean Region, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal, Mauritius, and Seychelles.
Opposition Attendance and Absence
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, in his capacity as Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, attended the ceremony, citing it as a constitutional duty. However, several other opposition leaders, including those from the Trinamool Congress and the Left, declined to participate despite receiving invitations.
Shift in Political Landscape: BJP's Shared Power
The swearing-in of Modi 3.0 marks a significant shift in India's political landscape. For the first time since coming to power in 2014, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will share power with its NDA partners, having fallen short of an outright majority in the recent Lok Sabha elections. The BJP secured 240 seats, while the NDA as a whole won 293 seats, below the majority threshold of 272. This coalition government represents a new chapter in Indian politics, with the BJP navigating the challenges of collaborative governance.
