Modi to take oath as PM on June 8; leaders of neighbouring nations to attend ceremony

CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Narendra Modi is likely to take oath as the new Prime Minister over the weekend, a ceremony that will see the participation of several leaders from neighbouring countries. Top leaders of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal and Mauritius are likely to be invited to the ceremony,

Modi is all set to take charge as the prime minister for a historic third consecutive term with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) winning 293 seats in the Lok Sabha polls. He was elected leader of the coalition at a meeting of the NDA held on Wednesday.

“The MPs will also meet on Friday to formally elect Modi as their leader and the alliance leaders will then go to the President to submit their letters of support,” HAM (Secular) leader and former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi told reporters after attending the meeting.

There are also reports that the decision to swear in over the weekend was taken to avoid fuelling uncertainty which may further encourage opposition parties.

Wickremesinghe invited

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s office will attend the ceremony. His media office confirmed that Modi invited him to the swearing-in ceremony.

It said Wickremesinghe congratulated Modi on the electoral victory in a phone call. “During the conversation, Prime Minister @narendramodi invited President Wickremesinghe to his swearing-in ceremony, which President @RW_UNP accepted,” it said.

Modi also had a phone conversation with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In the phone conversation, Modi invited Hasina to attend his swearing-in ceremony and she accepted it, diplomatic sources said.