Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to take the oath for a third term on Saturday, making him the first three-term leader of India since Congress stalwart Jawaharlal Nehru.
Following his meeting with President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi, Modi submitted his resignation along with that of his cabinet. The President requested him to continue in his role until the swearing-in ceremony.
Prime Minister @narendramodi called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Prime Minister tendered his resignation along with the Union Council of Ministers. The President accepted the resignation and requested the Prime Minister and the Union Council of Ministers… pic.twitter.com/1ZeSwQFU1y
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 5, 2024
In the 2024 elections, Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 240 seats, 32 short of the 272-majority mark. To form the government, the BJP will now rely on the 53 seats won by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) members. Modi retained his Lok Sabha seat in Varanasi, defeating Congress candidate Ajay Rai by less than 1.5 lakh votes, thus becoming a three-time MP from the temple town.
Earlier today, Modi chaired the final meeting of the Union Cabinet for his current government. The BJP, which had set an ambitious target of 370 seats (400+ including NDA partners), was held back by the Congress-led INDIA bloc, which secured 232 seats, significantly reducing the BJP’s advantage in key states.
Also Read: Rivals in Bihar, fellow passengers on flight to Delhi; Nitish, Tejashwi spotted onboard same craft to national capital
Despite the setback, the BJP managed to finish as the single-largest party, thanks to strong performances in Odisha (20 of 21 seats), Andhra Pradesh (21 of 25), Madhya Pradesh (29 of 29), and Bihar (30 of 40).
The party also made a historic breakthrough in Kerala by winning its first-ever Lok Sabha seat in the southern state. However, it finished with zero seats in Tamil Nadu for the second consecutive election, with the ruling DMK and its allies winning all 39 seats.
Addressing a jubilant crowd at the party’s Delhi headquarters on Tuesday, Modi expressed gratitude to the people of India for placing their faith in the NDA for a third time. “I bow to the people for this affection and assure them we will continue the good work done in the last decade to keep fulfilling aspirations,” he said.
Also Read: BJP, allies scramble for coalition as Lok Sabha results give slight edge to NDA
Modi also acknowledged the critical roles of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Chandrababu Naidu and Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar, both seen as pivotal figures in coalition politics. The TDP has 16 Lok Sabha MPs and the JDU has 12. If the NDA were to lose these 28 seats, its tally would drop to 265, potentially jeopardizing Modi’s government.
Amid speculation, sources indicate that the Congress and the INDIA bloc might attempt to approach Naidu and Kumar. While Kumar has remained silent on the matter, Naidu affirmed his allegiance to the NDA, telling reporters in Delhi, “I am in the NDA… am going for the meeting.”
Both the NDA and INDIA alliances are holding meetings in Delhi today to review the election results and plan their next steps.
Read all the World News, Business News, Sports News, Entertainment News, Business News and Opinion here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
