Narendra Modi sworn in as India’s PM for third term

After less-than-expected election results left him dependent on coalition partners for government, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the oath of office on Sunday for a third term.

During a ceremony to officially mark his takeover of power, Modi pledged to “bear true allegiance to the constitution of India,” surrounded by leaders of his coalition and representatives of his Hindu-nationalist party.

Instead, in order to secure the 15-member National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition and the necessary legislative majority, he was had to engage in hurried negotiations.

When he took the oath, a military brass band played and honour guards lined the presidential palace stairs. However, as Modi has not yet revealed his new cabinet, attention was being watched for the group of parliamentarians who also took the oath of office.

Modi was followed immediately by top BJP aides Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and Nitin Gadkari — the defence, interior and transport ministers in his last government respectively.

Larger coalition parties have demanded hefty concessions in exchange for their support.

Modi described recent days as “very busy” in an article published on his website Sunday ahead of the ceremony, saying he was in the “midst of preparations of government formation”.

Wearing a gleaming white kurta flowing shirt and trousers, Modi was the first of several ministers and deputy ministers sworn in by President Droupadi Murmu at the ceremony attended by several thousand people.

The crowd included adoring BJP loyalists, as well as South Asian leaders, Bollywood celebrities such as legend Shahrukh Khan, and billionaire tycoons Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, key Modi allies.