NEW DELHI, June 10 – Narendra Modi has been sworn in as prime minister of India for a historic third term, ushering in a new era of coalition politics for India’s strongman leader.
The ceremony, which took place at the presidential palace on Sunday evening, marked Modi’s return to power, only the second leader in India’s history to win three consecutive terms.
Modi had to rely on coalition partners, notably smaller regional parties, to give the BJP enough seats to claim a parliamentary majority and form the government.
It is the first time that Modi, who is used to leading from the front, has been forced to govern in a power-sharing arrangement, with coalition partners taking several cabinet and ministerial posts.
Heads of state from neighbouring countries, including the prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, and the Sri Lankan president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, flew in to attend Modi’s swearing in ceremony. Also in attendance were two of India’s richest industrialists, Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, and the Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.
