Delhi set for Modi's oath-taking ceremony today

Narendra Modi is set to become the Prime Minister of India for a third consecutive term. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for today at 7:15 pm at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

On the same evening, the Council of Ministers will also pledge their oaths of office and secrecy, joining the Prime Minister's new cabinet.

President Draupadi Murmu of India will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the Prime Minister and other members of the Union Council of Ministers. In light of the significant number of dignitaries attending, security measures have been heightened, with increased deployment of traffic, police, and Army personnel around Rashtrapati Bhawan and in the capital city of India.

India has invited several leaders from neighbouring countries to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi.

Several national and international dignitaries, including top leaders from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, have been invited to attend the ceremony.

Around 8000 people, including dignitaries from all walks of life, are expected to attend the event.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, several leaders have accepted the invitation and will arrive in New Delhi on Sunday to participate in the ceremony.

The national capital will remain on high alert on Sunday as SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) leaders prepare to attend the event, Delhi Police told news agency PTI. Major hotels like the Leela, Taj, ITC Maurya, Claridge’s, and Oberoi are already under tight security. Officials have arranged safe routes for the dignitaries’ travel between their hotels and the venue.

“Dignitaries attending the swearing-in will be given designated routes from their hotels to the venue and back,” according to officials.

In addition to attending the swearing-in ceremony, these leaders will participate in a banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan the same evening. This gathering is expected to facilitate high-level interactions and discussions, further strengthening regional ties among SAARC member nations.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the single-largest party after the Lok Sabha elections. However, the party’s tally of 240 seats was 32 short of a simple majority in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the parliament.

Narendra Modi’s third government will rely on the support of his National Democratic Alliance partners, N Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar, whose parties won a total of 28 Lok Sabha seats.