New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Prepares for Third Term Amidst Coalition Support
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, poised to assume office for a third consecutive term as the leader of a coalition government, chaired a meeting on Wednesday with members of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), who unanimously elected him as their leader.
NDA Members of Parliament will convene on June 7 to formally elect Modi as their leader, after which the alliance leaders will submit their letters of support to the President. This information was shared by HAM (Secular) leader and former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi following the meeting.
According to some sources, the new government may be sworn in over the weekend. There is a sense of urgency to complete the formalities swiftly to prevent any uncertainty, which a buoyant opposition might exploit.
The timing of the swearing-in could also depend on how quickly the BJP and its allies finalize agreements on matters such as the distribution of ministries and other negotiation terms. Alternatively, these issues could be deferred for resolution at a later stage.
The meeting was attended by prominent leaders, including TDP’s N Chandrababu Naidu, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, LJP(R) leader Chirag Paswan, JD(S) leader H D Kumarawamy, Jana Sena’s Pawan Kalyan, AGP’s Atul Bora, and NCP’s Praful Patel. Senior BJP figures Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and J P Nadda were also present.
Janata Dal (United) leader Sanjay Jha, who participated in the meeting, expressed confidence that the formalities related to the formation of the government under Modi would be completed soon. All parties expressed confidence in Modi’s leadership.
A resolution passed during the meeting affirmed that the NDA government would continue its efforts to improve the living standards of the people and promote the country’s all-round development while preserving its heritage.
“We are all proud that the NDA fought the 2024 Lok Sabha elections unitedly under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and won. We unanimously elect Narendra Modi as our leader,” the resolution stated.
The resolution also highlighted the country’s development across various sectors over the past 10 years, attributing this progress to the pro-people policies of the NDA government under Modi.
The NDA secured 293 seats in the Lok Sabha election, comfortably surpassing the majority mark of 272 in the 543-member House. This victory paves the way for Modi to take the oath for a third consecutive term, marking a first for any ruling alliance since 1962.
However, this term will differ as the BJP has fallen short of a majority and will rely on allies for government formation, unlike the previous two terms when it enjoyed a comfortable majority on its own.
The BJP, hosting the meeting, emphasized collective partnership with its allies. Naidu, Kumar, and Shinde were seated to Modi’s left, while Nadda, Singh, and Shah flanked the Prime Minister on his right. In terms of party strength within the NDA, Naidu, Kumar, and Shinde are the largest constituents after the BJP.
Naidu and Kumar’s parties, which together command the support of 28 MPs, dismissed any speculation about their future moves. Naidu reaffirmed his support for the BJP, a sentiment echoed by JD(U)’s Jha.
When questioned by a reporter about his position in the NDA, Naidu responded, “We contested the elections together. Why do you doubt?”
All leaders congratulated the Prime Minister for his leadership and the nation’s progress under his guidance. They commended his hard work and efforts in nation-building.
Modi, addressing the meeting, described the mandate as historic for the NDA’s third consecutive government, a feat last achieved over 60 years ago. His allies praised his vision for a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) and affirmed their partnership in this goal. They also lauded his efforts in enhancing India’s global stature and poverty eradication, pledging to continue the good work.
