Modi takes oath as PM of India for third time, 72 ministers to be sworn in

Sunday 09 June, 2024 | 8:04 PM READ MALAYALAM VERSION

NEW DELHI: Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India for the third consecutive term. He was sworn in at 7.22 pm in a grand ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Draupadi Murmu administered the oath. 72 people from BJP and constituent parties will take oath and office. There are indications that BJP national president JP Nadda is joining the cabinet.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi, prominent leaders like Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nidin Gadkari, JP Nadda, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Nirmala Sitharaman, S Jaishankar and former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar also took their oaths. From the constituent parties, JDS leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy also took oath. Thrissur MP Suresh Gopi and George Kurien from Kerala are included in the cabinet.

At the same time, among the constituent parties, Ajit Pawar's NCP has rejected the invitation to the cabinet and is staying away as a sign of protest. The protest is not against getting cabinet status in the Union Cabinet. Party chief Ajit Pawar said that Praful Patel becoming the Minister of State is not something that can even be thought of or accepted.

At the same time, there is no indication regarding the portfolios. Sources close to the BJP indicate that there will be no change in the important departments of Home Affairs, External Affairs, Defense and Finance. Ashwini Vaishnaw is also likely to be the minister of the railway department, which is has a special central action plan.