- Narendra Modi is set to be sworn in
- The coalition will announce ministerial names
- This status grants financial benefits for development,
Narendra Modi, the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is set to be sworn in as India’s prime minister for a historic third term on Sunday.
The ceremony will take place at 6 pm local time (12:30 GMT).
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won the general election with 293 seats on Tuesday, but the results were unexpected as the BJP fell short of an outright majority.
This led to uncertainty over whether alliance partners would back Modi or negotiate with the opposition.
However, on Friday, NDA leaders unanimously backed Modi as their leader and prime ministerial candidate.
Modi thanked his allies, saying the NDA would work to govern the country well and take it forward. He highlighted the alliance’s three-decade history, calling it the most successful alliance.
The BJP won 240 seats, short of the 272 required for a majority, but the NDA was pushed over the half-way mark with the help of two key allies, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)).
Media speculation about the opposition alliance attempting to form a government has ended. The coalition will announce ministerial names and key portfolios in the coming days, with interest in potential concessions to regional parties.
TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu may request special status for his state, Andhra Pradesh, in exchange for his support. This status grants financial benefits for development, a demand that led to Naidu leaving the NDA in 2018 before rejoining months before the election.
On Wednesday, Modi submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu, and the parliament was dissolved, paving the way for a new prime minister and MPs to be sworn in.
