Modi’s Third Term : Narendra Modi is set to become the Prime Minister of India for a third consecutive term, following the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) securing 293 seats in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.
Modi’s oath-taking ceremony is scheduled for Sunday evening, with several prominent South Asian leaders, including Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, confirming their attendance.
The 2024 elections saw a reduction in the BJP’s seat count to 240, down from 303 in 2019. The NDA’s overall seats also fell to 293 from 352, yet still above the majority mark of 272. This election outcome means that Modi and the BJP must now rely more heavily on their allies to form the government, a scenario not seen since 2014.
Key allies include Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party, with 16 seats, and Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal United, which secured 12 seats. Both parties are negotiating for significant roles in the new government.
The TDP has requested the Lok Sabha Speaker’s post, though the BJP might offer the Deputy Speaker position instead. Meanwhile, the JDU is likely to push for a Common Minimum Programme for the NDA, with Nitish Kumar leading a committee to implement it.
Despite these negotiations, the BJP is expected to retain control of the major ministries: Home, Defence, Finance, and External Affairs.
This historic third term for Narendra Modi places him alongside Jawaharlal Nehru as the only Indian leaders to achieve such a feat. The BJP and NDA’s ability to navigate coalition politics and meet the demands of their allies will be crucial in the upcoming term.
