President Droupadi Murmu fed 'dahi-cheeni' (sweet curd) to Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan as he staked his claim to form the government. The President invited Modi to form a government at the Centre after the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) elected him as the parliamentary party leader. Modi was expected to be sworn in as Prime Minister for the third time at 7:15 PM on June 9 (Sunday).
Addressing the media after meeting President Murmu, Modi said she had given him the letter designating him as the Prime Minister and sought details of a suitable time for the swearing-in ceremony. She also asked for the list of ministers who would take the oath with him.
"The NDA meeting was held earlier today, where friends from the alliance have chosen me for this responsibility. All the NDA allies informed the President about this, and the President called me and appointed me as PM-designate. She informed me about the swearing-in ceremony and the list of Cabinet ministers. I have informed her that the evening of June 9 will be suitable for us," PM Modi said.
Modi was chosen as the leader of the NDA Parliamentary Party earlier in the day. He visited Advani soon after being selected as the leader of the NDA parliamentary party, leader of the BJP parliamentary party, and leader of the BJP in the Lok Sabha. After meeting Advani, he went to the residence of Joshi, a former president Ram Nath Kovind.
PM Modi was scheduled to go to Rashtrapati Bhavan at 6 PM to formally call on President Murmu and stake his claim to form the government.
The NDA has 293 MPs in their camp, placing the ruling alliance comfortably above the majority mark of 272 in the 543-member Lok Sabha.
Meanwhile, Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe were set to arrive in Delhi on June 9 to attend the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi.