PM Modi invited to form Govt

New Delhi, June 7: President Droupadi Murmu on Friday formally invited senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and caretaker Prime Minister Narendra Modi to form the Union government for the third consecutive term. During their meeting, Modi staked his claim to establish the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre.

President Murmu has appointed me as PM-designate, and I have informed her that the swearing-in ceremony may be held on Sunday," Modi told the media outside Rashtrapati Bhavan after meeting with the President. "I will hand over the list of Ministers to President Murmu before the swearing-in."

The oath ceremony will take place at the Rashtrapati Bhawan lawns on Sunday at 7:15 pm

Modi has been unanimously elected as the leader of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) parliamentary party.

This decision was formalised during a meeting held at the Samvidhan Sadan or Central Hall of the Old Parliament House, where key allies and party leaders including newly elected BJP members of Parliament gathered to consolidate their support.

The proposal for Modi's leadership was initiated by caretaker Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and seconded by caretaker Ministers Amit Shah and Nitin Gadkari. Rajnath Singh, addressing the assembly of newly elected MPs, said, "I want to congratulate all the newly elected MPs... Today, we are here to elect the leader of the NDA. I believe that PM Narendra Modi's name is the most suitable for all these posts."

BJP national president JP Nadda highlighted the NDA's electoral success, noting, "The NDA secured a majority in the Lok Sabha Elections, and we also formed our government in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim."

Support for Modi's leadership was echoed by prominent leaders such as TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar, and JD(S) MP-elect HD Kumaraswamy.

Chandrababu Naidu lauded Modi's relentless campaign efforts, stating, "During the election campaign, for three months, PM Modi never took any rest. Day and night he campaigned. This made a huge difference in winning the election in Andhra Pradesh."

With the BJP falling short of the majority mark, the party's dependence on allies like TDP and JD(U) became crucial. Modi was warmly greeted by Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar, and other leaders, including Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Chirag Paswan.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy reaffirmed his party's support for Modi and the NDA to form a "stable government." Modi, addressing the NDA's parliamentary meeting, underscored the need for consensus in governance, stating, "We have a majority and we need it to run the government. But to run the country, we need consensus. It is our responsibility to pursue consensus and not leave any stone unturned for the development of the country."

Modi emphasised the importance of meeting the aspirations of the common people swiftly, aiming to propel India from the fifth-largest to the third-largest economy. He stressed reducing government interference, and more governance particularly for the middle and upper-middle classes, and highlighted the grassroots work of NDA allies, which has strengthened the coalition.

Modi also pointed out the NDA's broad representation across tribal-dominated states and the northeast, reflecting India's diverse spirit. He stated, "Our path is sarv panth Sambhav or respect for all religions ... in Goa or the Northeast, where our Christian brothers and sisters are in large numbers, we have our governments."

The PM-elect celebrated the NDA's "grand victory" and called the alliance synonymous with good governance, noting the tangible improvements in the lives of the poor over the past decade. He highlighted the coalition's inroads in South India and the potential for future success, despite mixed results in recent assembly elections.

Modi proclaimed the NDA as the most successful alliance in India's history, citing its completion of three full terms and its entry into a fourth. He emphasized that the coalition, rooted in the legacy of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, is committed to the nation first, marking it as an enduring partnership.

The stage is all set and preparations at the front lawns of the President House are ongoing at a massive swiftness with huge flower decorations, canopies, outdoor cooling system and other arrangements in a gala way as several foreign guests and leaders will also be attending the oath ceremony.

After attending the key NDA parliamentary party meeting on Friday, Modi paid visits to veteran BJP leaders L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, as well as former President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, at their residences in Delhi. These meetings took place ahead of the Sunday swearing-in ceremony for Modi's third term as Prime Minister following his re-election.

Modi's engagement with the senior BJP figures occurred just before he was scheduled to meet President Droupadi Murmu. During this meeting with the President, he planned to present her with the list of parliamentarians supporting him and formally stake his claim to form the government.