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Modi sworn in for second term as prime minister

Published:Friday | May 31, 2019 | 12:00 AM
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The Associated Press
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tribute at Rajghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, before being sworn in for his second term as Indian prime minister this evening in New Delhi, India, Thursday, May 30, 2019. India’s president on Saturday appointed Modi as the prime minister soon after newly-elected lawmakers from the ruling alliance, led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, elected him as their leader after a thunderous victory in national elections. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
The Associated Press
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tribute at Rajghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, before being sworn in for his second term as Indian prime minister in New Delhi, India, Thursday, May 30.
The Associated Press
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tributes at Rajghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, before being sworn in for his second term as Indian prime minister in New Delhi, India, yesterday.
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NEW DELHI (AP):

Narendra Modi was sworn in for a second term as India’s prime minister yesterday after an overwhelming election victory for his Hindu nationalist party in a country of 1.3 billion people seeking swift economic change.

President Ram Nath Kovind administered the oath to Modi and his Cabinet ministers.

Missing from the new Cabinet were former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who stepped aside for health reasons.

The portfolios of the Cabinet ministers were expected to be announced late yesterday. They include new appointee Amit Shah, who has headed Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party as president since 2014.

SEATS WON

In the recent elections, Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party won 303 seats in the 542-member lower house of Parliament, giving him huge authority.

However, he faces immense challenges, including a slowing economy, high 6.2 per cent unemployment and low agricultural prices that have hurt farmers.

The opposition Congress party, which had dominated Indian politics since the country won independence from Britain in 1947, was reduced to 52 seats. Its key leaders, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, attended yesterday’s ceremony at the presidential palace.

The ceremony was attended by several South Asian and Southeast Asian leaders as part of Modi’s effort to build economic partnerships in the region.

Modi did not invite Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, signifying that tense relations continue between the nuclear-armed rivals.

Modi has been demanding an end to Pakistan’s support for insurgent groups which attack Indian forces and installations in disputed Kashmir. Pakistan says it provides only moral and diplomatic support to these groups.