Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was re-elected with a thumping majority for a second term at the centre, will take oath at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday. The ceremony will take place at 7 pm, President Ram Nath Kovind has tweeted.
PM Modi had met President Kovind and staked a claim to form a government at the centre last evening. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance had won a resounding majority in the Lok Sabha elections on Thursday, securing 352 seats in the 545-member lower house of parliament.
Names of new ministers have been kept under wraps but President Kovind’s tweet indicated that PM Modi’s cabinet of ministers will join him in taking oath.
The government has also not announced the guest list for the swearing-in ceremony. In 2014, leaders of the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) were invited and attended the ceremony – the list included Nawaz Sharif, who was then Prime Minister of Pakistan.
The President will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the Prime Minister and other members of the Union Council of Ministers at 7 pm on May 30, 2019, at Rashrapati Bhavan
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) May 26, 2019
PM Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, his closest aide, are believed to be keen on including newer faces in the council of ministers. West Bengal, where the BJP has made a giant leap, jumping from two to 18 seats, could get big representation.
The PM and Mr Shah have so far not indicated a decision on the “Big 4” – Home, Finance, External Affairs and Defence.