Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in for a third term on Sunday, after mixed election results left him dependent on a coalition to govern the world’s most populous country.
Accompanied by leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its Hindu nationalist party, and leaders of allied groups, this 73-year-old man pledged to protect the Indian Constitution during the ceremony at the Presidential Palace in New Delhi. And this in the presence of thousands of people, including leaders of South Asian countries, Bollywood stars and wealthy businessmen.
Several ministers and vice-ministers, like him, took the oath before Indian President Droupadi Murmu, even if Mr. Modi, who has been in power since 2014, has not yet given the composition of his new government.
These included Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and Nitin Gadkari, all three from the BJP and respectively holders of the Defense, Interior and Transport portfolios in his previous government.
The BJP won 240 seats in Parliament, 32 seats short of an absolute majority and significantly below the 303 seats obtained in 2019. Narendra Modi was therefore forced to enter into talks with his partners in the National Democratic Alliance ( NDA which brings together 15 parties in total).
In an article published on his website on Sunday, he described the last few days as “very busy”. “We are in the midst of preparations for the formation of the government,” he also wrote.
