Asia-Pacific

Modi set to be formally elected as alliance leader as India coalition talks progress

Swearing-in ceremony for new government expected to take place on Sunday

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi arrives to greet supporters at the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters after the results of the general elections in New Delhi. Photograph: Atul Loke/The New York Times
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi arrives to greet supporters at the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters after the results of the general elections in New Delhi. Photograph: Atul Loke/The New York Times
Fri Jun 07 2024 - 12:51

Newly elected lawmakers of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA) arrived in New Delhi on Friday for their first meeting at which he will be formally elected as their leader, ahead of presenting his claim to form a new coalition government.

Although Modi will become prime minister for a record-equalling third consecutive term, this is the first time his Hindu nationalist Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has needed regional parties for support to form the government.

The BJP, which enjoyed a handsome majority in the previous two terms, secured only 240 seats, way behind the 272 mark needed to form a government in its own right.

The NDA won 293 seats in the 543-member lower house of parliament and the INDIA alliance led by Rahul Gandhi’s centrist Congress party won more than 230 seats, more than forecast.

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Indian media has reported that Modi’s allies, mainly the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal (United), are eyeing the post of the speaker in the lower house while the BJP is expected to retain four key ministries – foreign affairs, defence, interior and finance.

[ The Irish Times view on the Indian election: Modi holds on, but needs to listen to voters ]

The coalition negotiations are a throwback to an era before 2014 – when Modi swept to power with an outright BJP majority – in which alliance partners haggled for positions and benefits.

After meeting party lawmakers early on Friday, Modi will attend a meeting of the NDA, where he will be formally elected as the leader.

He is scheduled to meet president Droupadi Murmu later on Friday to stake his claim to form a government, according to an NDA leader.

The swearing-in ceremony for the new government with Modi as prime minister is expected to take place on Sunday.

Rahul Gandhi demanded an investigation into sharp stock market moves towards the end of the elections, alleging on Thursday that Modi gave misleading investment advice.

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024