Modi to Be Sworn in as PM for Third Term on June 8 with Ally Support
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is poised to undertake his third term in office on June 8th, as his party grapples with a diminished majority in parliament following a challenging electoral outcome.
Modi, a figure who has held sway over Indian politics since ascending to power in 2014, will for the first time rely on the support of regional allies, whose allegiance has been variable over time. This shift in dynamics could potentially complicate the government’s pursuit of its reform agenda.
On Wednesday, two crucial allies within Modi’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) from the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, and the Janata Dal (United) governing Bihar in the north, reaffirmed their commitment.
Chandrababu Naidu, leader of the TDP, affirmed their loyalty to the NDA, stating his intention to attend the alliance meeting in Delhi later in the day.
In a constitutional formality, the federal cabinet convened on Wednesday morning to propose the dissolution of parliament, paving the way for Modi to establish a new government.
Reports from local media indicate that Modi and his new cabinet are slated to be sworn in on Saturday.
The NDA secured 293 seats in the 543-member lower house of parliament, surpassing the 272-seat threshold required to form a government.
However, Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) independently secured only 240 seats, a weakened mandate that could potentially impede India’s fiscal policies, according to ratings agency Moody’s. The TDP secured 16 seats, with the remaining NDA seats distributed among other allies.
In contrast, the opposition INDIA alliance, spearheaded by Rahul Gandhi’s centrist Congress party, exceeded expectations by securing 230 seats. Congress alone secured 99 seats, nearly doubling its tally from the 2019 elections—a surprising surge expected to bolster Gandhi’s political stature.
