In a spectacular display of people’s mandate, Narendra Modi took oath as Prime Minister of India for a historic third consecutive term on Sunday amidst thunderous cheers and applause at a glittering ceremony in Delhi.
The 72-year-old leader was administered the oath of office and secrecy by President Droupadi Murmu in the forecourt of the iconic Rashtrapati Bhavan before a gathering of over 10,000 people including world leaders, dignitaries, and BJP’s saffron-robed sanyasis and other associates after leading the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to an unprecedented third victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Dressed in his trademark crisp kurta-pajama and grey jacket, Modi walked up to the dais imprinted with the Ashoka emblem amid roars of “Modi…Modi” from the thousands who had gathered, many traveling from across the country to witness the grand event.
The elaborate ceremony opened with the rendering of vedic hymns by priests from various states and the arrival of the Presidential cavalcade on the forecourt. After being sworn in himself, Modi watched as 58 other Union ministers took oath to join his fresh stint leading the most powerful elected government in the world’s largest democracy.
The three key leaders closest to Modi – Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari were among the first to take the ministerial oath. The presence of chief guests like Presidents of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as well as the Prime Ministers of Nepal, Bhutan and Singapore added to the diplomatic significance of the swearing-in.
In his brief inaugural address, Modi invoked the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ and said his vision was of an India that celebrates its diversity, heritage and age-old ethos while marching confidently towards being a developed nation by 2047 when the country celebrates a century of independence.
As the ceremony culminated with a musical performance of patriotic songs, fireworks lit up the Delhi sky celebrated Modi’s ascendancy to the highest executive post for an unprecedented 3rd straight term. The stage is now set for the unveiling of Modi’s governance blueprint for leading the world’s fifth largest economy over the next five years.
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