Prime Minister Modi Pays Tributes Ahead of Historic Third Term Swearing-In Ceremony

New Delhi, India: On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commenced his day by paying respects to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Mahatma Gandhi, and visiting the National War Memorial ahead of his swearing-in for an unprecedented third consecutive term as India’s leader.

Accompanied by outgoing Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Modi visited the War Memorial in the morning, followed by offering floral tributes at Rajghat. The oath-taking ceremony is scheduled for 7:15 PM, where Modi, alongside his new council of ministers, will be sworn into office. This historic moment makes Modi the first Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to secure three successive full terms.

Emphasizing India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy, the ceremony will host several regional leaders as honored guests. These include the presidents of Sri Lanka and Maldives, the vice president of Seychelles, and the prime ministers of Bangladesh, Mauritius, Nepal, and Bhutan.

The dignitaries will also attend a banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan later in the evening.

Security measures have been tightened for the event, with over 1,100 Delhi traffic police personnel deployed to ensure smooth proceedings. Construction workers involved in the new Parliament building have been invited as special guests, reflecting Modi’s inclusive approach.

However, Congress leader KC Venugopal remarked that opposition leaders have not received any communication from the government regarding the swearing-in ceremony of PM-designate Narendra Modi. This statement highlights the ongoing political tensions as Modi prepares for his third term.