Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Friday (June 7) that President Droupadi Murmu has invited him to form a new government. The new government will be a coalition of 15 parties, with Modi promising to work towards success through unity.
According to Reuters, Modi met with President Murmu on Friday and accepted her invitation to serve as the Chairman of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition government for the next five years, leading the country with the largest population in the world.
Modi stated that the new government will be sworn in on Sunday evening, marking the beginning of his third term as Prime Minister. Speaking to reporters outside the presidential palace, Modi assured the nation, saying, “I want to promise the people of this country that in the 18th Lok Sabha, we will work with the same pace, the same commitment, and achieve the aspirations of the people.”
This marks the first time in ten years that Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) needs the support of regional parties to form a government, as the party secured a majority in the previous elections in 2014 and 2019. This shift initially caused market fears and concerns from analysts about the certainty of its policies.
Earlier on Friday, following a vote by NDA members to have Modi lead their alliance, Modi expressed gratitude, saying, “I am fortunate that everyone in the NDA has chosen me to lead.” Legislators and senior leaders applauded Modi in the central hall of the old parliament building. Modi then stated, “No alliance has been as successful as the NDA.” Some individuals stood up and chanted, “Modi! Modi!”
Modi emphasized, “We have won the majority… but for governing the country, unity is crucial… we will strive for unity.”
He mentioned that the new government would focus on increasing savings for the middle class and improving their quality of life as they are the driving force of the nation.
NDA leaders vow to carry on
The main leaders of the National Democratic Alliance praised Modi, expressing confidence in his leadership abilities. Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar in eastern India, stated, “I believe that no matter what happens in the future, he will deliver. We will stand by him every step of the way.” The Janata Dal United from Bihar is the third-largest party in the NDA.
According to Indian media reports, Kumar’s party and the second-largest party in the NDA, Telugu Desam with 16 members, are eyeing the position of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, while the BJP itself is expected to retain key departments such as Foreign Affairs, Defense, Interior, and Finance.
The alliance hopes the new government will review the conscription system introduced in 2022, where young men and women are recruited to serve in non-officer positions for a four-year term, with only one-fourth being retained long-term. The shorter service period has raised concerns among potential recruits, leading to unrest in certain regions as it is seen to affect job prospects.
A post-election survey revealed that apart from rising prices and declining incomes, the lack of job opportunities was a key issue for voters, causing a decrease in support for Modi.
The formation of a coalition government represents a setback for Modi, taking him back to before he became Prime Minister in 2014 when the BJP came to power with an absolute majority.