In a momentous event marking his third consecutive term, Narendra Modi was sworn in as Prime Minister of India on June 9, 2024, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), under Modi’s leadership, secured 293 seats through the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), falling short of an absolute majority and leading to the formation of a coalition government. The ceremony was a grand affair, attended by thousands, including South Asian leaders, Bollywood celebrities, and industrialists but notably lacking high-ranking representatives from China and Pakistan. Modi, at 73, becomes the second Prime Minister after Jawaharlal Nehru to be elected for a third five-year tenure and is set to lead a 71-member team that includes 30 cabinet ministers from the BJP and its allies with a focus on economic development and the middle class. The Telugu Desam Party and Janata Dal (United) are crucial to the government’s stability, while the Congress-led INDIA alliance put up a strong fight with 232 seats. Modi’s new term starts amid heightened expectations of a more collaborative and diverse governance approach, aiming to fulfill his vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ or a developed India by 2047.
Key points
- Narendra Modi takes oath for a third term as India’s Prime Minister in a coalition government after the BJP falls short of a majority.
- The BJP and NDA secured 293 seats, while the Congress-led INDIA alliance won 232 seats.
- Modi’s new term is anticipated to prioritize economic development and the middle class.
- Modi’s government will depend on regional allies like the Telugu Desam Party and Janata Dal (United) for support.
