Return of coalition politics in India as Modi takes oath for 3rd time as premier

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) - Narendra Modi on Sunday took oath as prime minister of India, marking the return of coalition politics in the country as his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) needed the help of allies to secure a third term.

President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office and secrecy to Modi and his Cabinet at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential house.

Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Seychelles Vice President Ahmed Afif, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay witnessed the swearing-in ceremony.

There was no guest from Pakistan, with which India’s relations have been at a low point since 2019 when New Delhi removed special provisions granted to Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attended Modi’s swearing-in ceremony in 2014.

Modi, 73, will lead the new government for the third time as the 14th prime minister of India, with the support of allies under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

The results of the elections, which began on April 19 and concluded on June 1, gave the BJP 240 seats in the 543-member house.

A party requires 272 seats to form a government on its own.

However, with the support of the Telugu Desam Party and Janata Dal (United) and other partners, Modi-led NDA secured a third term with 293 seats.

This marks the return of coalition governments in India, the first time since 2014 when Modi’s BJP had secured the first two terms on its own.

Before BJP won polls in 2014, the Indian National Congress (INC) led a coalition government of over 300 seats under the United Progressive Alliance.

Modi’s main challenger Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) in this general election won 232 seats, including 99 by the INC, seen as a revival of opposition in the dominant BJP era.

Modi became the prime minister for the first time in 2014 and continued his second stint after winning the 2019 elections.

Ahead of this coveted position, Modi served as chief minister of western Gujarat state from 2001 to 2014.

With the third term, Modi matched the electoral record of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.