After less-than-expected election results left him dependent on coalition partners for government, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the oath of office on Sunday for a third term.
During a ceremony to officially mark his takeover of power, Modi pledged to “bear true allegiance to the constitution of India,” surrounded by leaders of his coalition and representatives from his Hindu-nationalist party.
Despite dominating for the last ten years, Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was unable to duplicate its two resounding victories this time, which surprised pundits and exit polls.
Instead, in order to secure the 15-member National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition and the necessary legislative majority, he was had to engage in hurried negotiations.
Honour guards lined the steps of the presidential palace and a military brass band played as he made the oath.
But with Modi yet to announce his new cabinet, the line of lawmakers also taking the oath of office was keenly watched for an indication of who will be in government.
Modi was followed immediately by top BJP aides Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and Nitin Gadkari — the defence, interior and transport ministers in his last government respectively.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in on Sunday for a third term after worse-than-expected election results left him reliant on coalition partners to govern.
Modi, flanked by officials from his Hindu-nationalist party and leaders his coalition members, vowed in a ceremony marking his formal assumption of power to “bear true allegiance to the constitution of India”.
When he took the oath, a military brass band played and honor guards lined the presidential palace stairs.
The line of parliamentarians taking the oath of office was also closely followed for a clue as to who will be in government, but Modi has not yet announced his new cabinet.
