Narendra Modi is likely to be sworn in as the Prime Minister, for the third time, on June 9 at 6 PM, news agency ANI reported citing sources. It was earlier scheduled for June 8, however, the official confirmation on the final date is awaited.
This marks the first time since Congress leader Jawaharlal Nehru that a Prime Minister will return to power for a third consecutive term. NDA MPs are set to meet again on June 7 to formally elect Modi as their leader. The alliance leaders will then present their letters of support to the President, said HAM (Secular) leader and former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi after attending a meeting.
The swearing-in ceremony for the Union Cabinet is also likely to take place on the same day, according to multiple reports.
Earlier on Wednesday, Modi resigned as Prime Minister along with his cabinet before President Droupadi Murmu. Murmu requested Modi to continue as interim Prime Minister until the new government is formed.
The term of the current 17th Lok Sabha ends on June 16. Modi also chaired a meeting of the Union Cabinet on Wednesday to review the Lok Sabha election results and discuss matters related to the formation of the next government, according to a report by India Today.
The report indicated that NDA allies have already started sending their demands to the BJP for positions in Modi's third-term cabinet. The JD(U) has requested three cabinet seats, while Jitan Ram Manjhi and Chirag Paswan each want one cabinet berth.
The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a majority in the Lok Sabha elections on Tuesday, comfortably crossing the majority mark of 272 in the 543-member Lok Sabha.
The BJP won 240 seats, falling far short of the majority mark for the first time since 2014 and is thus dependent on NDA allies to form the government.
The Congress, part of the opposition I.N.D.I.A bloc, won 99 seats in the elections, up from 52 in 2019, reducing the BJP's share in states like Rajasthan, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.