Modi invites Pak PM, SAARC heads to his swearing-in

President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday appointed Modi as the Prime Minister of India and requested him to advise the names of others to be appointed as Members of the Council of Ministers. 

Modi will be worn in as the 14th Prime Minister of India on May 26.

"Shri Narendra Modi, Leader of the BJP Parliamentary Party, called on the President at 1515 hrs. today (May 20, 2014). As Shri Narendra Modi has been elected leader of the BJP Parliamentary Party and BJP has the majority support in the House of the People, the President appointed Shri Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister of India and requested him to advise the names of others to be appointed Members of the Council of Ministers," a press communique from the President's Secretariat said.

"The President will administer the Oath of Office and Secrecy on May 26, 2014 at 1800 hrs. at Rashtrapati Bhavan," it said.

Modi met  Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here to stake claim to form the new government.

A delegation of 15 members of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by BJP chief Rajnath Singh met the President.

"A letter stating that Shri Narendra Modi has been elected as Leader of BJP Parliamentary Party was handed over to the President," the communique said.

Earlier in the day, Modi displayed an emotional and even teary allegiance to his seniors and the nation, presenting an uncharacteristically benign self as he drew closer to forming his government.

A choked-up Modi thanked the BJP for being elected as the Leader of the Parliamentary Board of the party and being endorsed for the Prime Minister's post.

"Please don't use the word 'kripa' while talking about me, Advaniji," Modi said, addressing the veteran who was seated near him and formally proposed his name for the post.

Advani, who once had revolted against Modi's rise, too was seen breaking down while embracing the Prime Minister designate moments after party MPs endorsed his proposal to name him their leader.

"I have a weakness..,. I am prone to tears. I thank the party and Narendra Modi for doing the kripa of letting me witness an unforgettable moment in our history," said the 86-year-old, explaining why he cried.

The praise prompted an emotional Modi to respond, "Advani ji said I did him kripa. Please don't use this word. Can a son ever do his mother kripa? The party is my mother, it has done me the favour of giving me an opportunity to serve it."

"You see Modi not because Modi's stature is large. You See Modi because party elders hoisted me on their shoulders," said Modi to an audience of senior party leaders, many of whom looked equally moved.

The 63-year-old Modi bowed deep and touched the ground with his forehead earlier while entering the Parliament House building. 

He began his half-hour speech in the historic central hall on an emotional note and said, "Had Atal Bihari Vajpayee been well, his presence would have completed this moment."

"We're here not for posts but to represent the aspirations of 125 crore people. Fulfilling my responsibility is the main thing," Modi said in his speech.

"I believe a government should think about the poor, listen to their problems. The new government is dedicated to the poor of India, the crores of youth and the women of India," Modi said.

"When we meet in 2019, I will give you and my countrymen a report card... I will live for India," he added.

Modi-led the BJP and the NDA to a historic win against the Congress winning a whopping 336 seats in the recently concluded Lok Sabha election.