Narendra Modi takes oath as PM for second time, Amit Shah joins ministry
New Delhi, May 30 (IBNS): In a grand ceremony that witnessed presence of nearly 8000 invitees from India and abroad, Narendra Modi took oath as the 16th Prime Minister of India for the second term along with 57 other ministers as the second Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government began its journey on Thursday. Architect of Modi's election victory, BJP president Amit Shah, also joined the ministry fuelling speculations who would succeed him as the next party chief.
Modi was among 58 ministers who took oath at the Rashtrapati Bhavan amid a large number of Indian and foreign guests. The swearing-in ceremony was administered by President Ram Nath Kovind.
The new NDA government will have nine Independent Ministers, 24 cabinet ministers and 25 Minister of States (MoS).
The biggest surprise is the inclusion of BJP president Amit Shah into the Modi 2.0 cabinet. Shah, who spearheaded the BJP's campaign across the nation for last five years, is likely to be the Finance or Home Minister as per media reports though nothing was confirmed from the party. Shah has won from Gujarat's Gandhinagar with a margin of close to five lakh votes.
It remains to be seen if senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh gets back his old portfolio, Union Home Ministry, or Shah bags it.
While Arun Jaitley has already opted out of the NDA government owing to his health concerns, Sushma Swaraj, who was the External Affairs Minister in the first NDA government, is likely to give it a miss this time. Swaraj did not contest the Lok Sabha polls this time too.
LIVE Now: PM @narendramodi to take the Oath of Office and Secrecy along with Council of Ministers @rashtrapatibhvn https://t.co/2t8rqUf4Os
— PIB India (@PIB_India) May 30, 2019
Babul Supriyo and Deboshree Chowdhury, the two MPs from Bengal where the BJP has gained huge in this polls, were sworn in on Thursday. Supriyo, a two-time MP from Asansol, is likely to get a full ministry this time.
Who were present at the swearing-in ceremony?
Members of the BIMSTEC member-states-Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan- had attended the event.
President of Bangladesh Md Abdul Hamid, his Sri Lankan counterpart Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Ministers of Mauritius and Nepal Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and KP Sharma Oli respectively were also present.
After a bitter electoral battle for months, Congress top brass Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh attended the event. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is a staunch critic of Modi, also did not miss to mark his attendance.
Bollywood also turned up for the day with actor-filmmaker-producer Karan Johar, actors Vivek Oberoi and actress Kangana Rananut being in the attendance.
Industrialists and businessmen were also caught in the frame included Ratan Tata, Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita Ambani.
Nitish appears but JD(U) not part of government
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) is not going to be a part of the government as it is unsatisfied with the portfolios given by Modi-Shah duo. While Modi and Shah fixed one ministry for each ally, JD(U) wanted more, media reports said.
However, Kumar, a key ally of the BJP in Bihar, was present in the audience.
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