HIGHLIGHTS: Narendra Modi sworn in as Prime Minister for second consecutive term

BJP ally JD(U) will not join the new government, party chief Nitish Kumar said.

"They wanted just one person fom the JD(U) in the cabinet, so it would have been just a symbolic participation. We informed them that it is ok we don't need it. It is not a big issue, we are fully in NDA and not upset at all. We are working together, no confusion," ANI quoted the Bihar chief minister as saying.

Rashtrapati Bhavan has been decorated for the swearing-in ceremony of the Narendra Modi as the country's next prime minister.

Visuals from outside Rashtrapati Bhavan ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony. pic.twitter.com/z0CVJNObMD

— ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2019

BJP president Amit Shah will join the list of ministers in the new government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi party's Gujarat chief said today. Shah contested his first Lok Sabha election from Gandhinagar in Gujarat. 

Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli arrives in Delhi. He will attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's oath ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan, later today.

Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli arrives in Delhi. He will attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's oath ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan, later today. pic.twitter.com/A6SIal4Bmi

— ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2019

Ahead of Narendra Modi's oath-taking ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan today, President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbay Jeenbekov arrived in Delhi. The swearing-in ceremony in the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan is expected to be grand affair with more than 6,000 guests, including leaders from the BIMSTEC countries, opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, chief ministers, corporate honchos and film stars set to be in attendance as President Ram Nath Kovind administers the oath of office and secrecy to Modi and his ministerial colleagues. 

President of Kyrgyzstan, Sooronbay Jeenbekov arrives in Delhi. He will attend PM Narendra Modi's oath ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan later today. pic.twitter.com/W9TELh12Ma

— ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2019

Shripad Yesso Naik, BJP: I want to thank the Prime Minister and Party President Amit Shah for again giving me a chance of serving the country by making me a part of the government. I have been invited to the oath taking ceremony, not been informed of the ministry yet.

MPs selected for ministerial berths will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence at 4.30 pm on Thursday, shortly before the swearing-in ceremony, PTI reported. Earlier in the morning, the prime minister held a final round of consultations with BJP president Amit Shah to give shape to his council of ministers before sending the list to the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Read more here

Roads leading to Rajpath (from Vijay chowk to Rashtrapati Bhawan), Vijay chowk and adjoining areas including North and South fountain, South Avenue, North Avenue, Dara-Shikoh Road, and Church Road, will remain closed today for the swearing-in of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Full story here

Leaders from the Shiv Sena, JD(U), Apna Dal, LJP, SAD, RSLP and AGP are likely to get a berth each in the Modi Cabinet.

The following leaders have received phone calls from Amit Shah and will be sworn in along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan today: Piyush Goyal, Nirmala Sitharaman, Ravi Shankar Prasad, M A Naqvi, Arjun Meghwal, Ramdas Athawale, Arvind Sawant, Prakash Javdekar, Jitendra Singh, Babul Supriya, Sadanand Gowda, Kiren Rijju, Rajyavardhan Rathore, Kishan Reddy, Prahalad Patel, Suresh Angadi, Smriti Irani, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Kailash Chaudhary, Kishanpal Gujjar, Purushottam Rupala and Mansukh Mandaviya. Among the new faces are Suresh Angadi (MP from Karnataka’s Belgavi), Debashri Choudhary (MP from Bengal’s Raiganj), Prahlad Joshi (MP from Karnataka’s Dharwad), Rattan Lal Kataria (MP from Haryana’s Ambala) and Ramesh Pokhriyal from Uttarakhand.

Sources have told The Indian Express that Renuka Singh is likely to get a Cabinet berth from Chhattisgarh. DV Sadananda Gowda, meanwhile, told ANI he had received a call from BJP chief Amit Shah, who confirmed he would take oath as a Union minister.

Top sources saying Renuka Singh, from the Surguja constituency likely to be the one ministerial pick from Chhattisgarh. Surguja is a reserved seat for tribals. While a first time MP, Singh is a multi term MLA from Premnagar constituency @IndianExpress

— Dipankar Ghose (@dipankarghose31) May 30, 2019

Some other names doing the rounds include Giriraj Singh, Dharmendra Pradhan, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Babul Supriyo, according to ANI.

Making Renuka Singh a minister also a strategic move. There are 14 assembly segments in North Chhattisgarh. In the assembly elections, they were wiped out, and in 2013 as well the Congress won most seats @IndianExpress

— Dipankar Ghose (@dipankarghose31) May 30, 2019

BJP leaders Piyush Goyal and Bhupender Yadav have been pictured at BJP president Amit Shah's residence in New Delhi.

The ministers who will take oath along with Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan this evening will meet the Prime Minister at his residence at 4.30 pm, reports news agency PTI. PM Modi held talks with BJP president Amit Shah earlier today, to reportedly finalise the list of ministers for his Council. 

In a separate important development today, Y S Jaganmohan Reddy is being sworn in as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. Reddy's YSR Congress Party swept the Andhra Assembly elections winning 151/175 seats. The party also walked away with 22 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, who met earlier this morning, are rumoured to have finalised the list of Union ministers who will take oath at Rashtrapati Bhavan this evening. Speculation is rife as to who will be given charge of the Finance Ministry, after Arun Jaitley opted out of taking responsibility in the new government citing health reasons. Also, with Shah being elected to the Lok Sabha from Gandhinagar, we're waiting to see what position he will take up in the government. The Indian Express has reported that Modi is likely to bring onboard his NDA allies despite BJP's thumping victory in the polls.

Foreign dignitaries continue to arrive in New Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Council of Ministers. Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Myanmar President U Win Myint were received at Delhi's IGI Airport this morning. They are among the 6,000 guests expected to attend the event at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Elaborate security and traffic arrangements have been made by the Delhi Police for smooth conduct of the function.

pic.twitter.com/Tp28kVUAyI

— Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) May 30, 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah are holding a closed-door meeting ahead of the swearing-in ceremony this evening. Are they finalising ministerial berths in the new government? The Indian Express has reported that until last night, hectic parleys were underway for the same, with Shah reaching out to leaders, asking them to inform him about their respective choices for ministerial posts.

There's a lot of speculation as to who will be inducted in Modi's Cabinet. Despite the BJP getting a comfortable majority – 303 out of 542 seats in Lok Sabha – the Prime Minister is likely to keep his NDA partners on board. In a statement to ANI, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut says: "From Shiv Sena one leader will take oath as a minister. Uddhav ji has given Arvind Sawant's name, he will take oath as a minister."

At 7 pm tonight, Narendra Modi and his council of ministers will be sworn in at an event at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Some 6,000 guests are expected to attend the event. Here's what you can expect.

When he became Prime Minister five years ago, Narendra Modi invited SAARC leaders for his swearing-in. As he re-enters office Thursday, the ceremony will be attended by leaders from the BIMSTEC countries, Kyrgyz Republic, and Mauritius. What does this outreach signify? Shubhajit Roy explains.

Narendra Modi who visited the National War Museum today morning reiterated his government's support to safeguard "India’s unity and integrity." "National security is our priority," he wrote on Twitter

India is proud of all those brave men and women martyred in the line of duty.

Paid tributes to our brave soldiers at the Rashtriya Samar Smarak.

Our Government will leave no stone unturned to safeguard India’s unity and integrity. National security is our priority. pic.twitter.com/jMR2tGOJDH

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 30, 2019

"We remember beloved Atal Ji every single moment. He would have been very happy to see BJP get such a great opportunity to serve people. Motivated by Atal Ji’s life and work, we will strive to enhance good governance and transform lives. Here are glimpses from ‘Sadaiv Atal’," tweets PM Modi.

We remember beloved Atal Ji every single moment.

He would have been very happy to see BJP get such a great opportunity to serve people.

Motivated by Atal Ji’s life and work, we will strive to enhance good governance and transform lives.

Here are glimpses from ‘Sadaiv Atal.’ pic.twitter.com/7LXNkU0DP4

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 30, 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets: "Paid tributes to respected Bapu at Rajghat. This year, we mark the 150th Jayanti of Bapu. May this special occasion further popularise Bapu’s noble ideals and continue inspiring us to empower the lives of the poor, downtrodden and marginalised." He paid tribute to Gandhi at Rajghat this morning.

Paid tributes to respected Bapu at Rajghat.

This year, we mark the 150th Jayanti of Bapu. May this special occasion further popularise Bapu’s noble ideals and continue inspiring us to empower the lives of the poor, downtrodden and marginalised. pic.twitter.com/7HLOgdXzzx

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 30, 2019

Dal Raisina has become the centre of controversy, with differing opinions as to how long it takes to cook. While chef Machindra Kasture, who first made the dish in 2010, claims it takes between six and eight hours, the current Rashtrapati Bhavan chef, Monty Saini, says it takes no less than 48 hours to cook. The dish that will be served to visiting dignitaries today has reportedly been cooking since Tuesday night.

When he became Prime Minister five years ago, Narendra Modi invited SAARC leaders for his swearing-in. As he re-enters office Thursday, the ceremony will be attended by leaders from the BIMSTEC countries, Kyrgyz Republic, and Mauritius. Shubhajit Roy lists some of the 6,000 guests expected to attend the event at Rashtrapati Bhavan today. 

Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, BJP president Amit Shah was busy holding marathon meetings to finalise names for ministerial berths in the new government. Who is likely to be picked? Read Liz Mathew and Pradeep Kaushal's report in The Indian Express.

Cabinet formation is a complex exercise, given the diversity of India. The Prime Minister has to ensure that he or she puts in place a team with experience and talent, while ensuring representation for all states and communities. Ahead of Narendra Modi beginning his second stint as Prime Minister, Pradeep Kaushal explains the making of a Union Cabinet.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hours before his swearing-in ceremony, has paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He visited the National War Memorial in New Delhi as well. The Prime Minister will be sworn in this evening at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the presence of 6,000 guests. We will bring you the latest news through the course of the day; stay tuned!

LIVE: PM @narendramodi visits the National War Memorial in New Delhi. https://t.co/9xzHptRFAT

— BJP (@BJP4India) May 30, 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat this morning, after which they visited the memorial of former prime minister A B Vajpayee. 

Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday said that his party will attend the oath-taking ceremony for sure. "Elections were a matter between 2 ideologies, 2 parties but the oath ceremony is of a Prime Minister. PM is of the entire country. We expect him to treat all people of the country equally."

Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress: Congress party will attend the oath taking ceremony for sure. Elections were a matter between 2 ideologies, 2 parties but the oath ceremony is of a Prime Minister. PM is of the entire country. We expect him to treat all people of the country equally. pic.twitter.com/yXjLuG56Mm

— ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, hours after he announced his decision not to seek a ministerial berth in the new government. Modi drove to Jaitley's official residence in the national capital and was with him for sometime, officials said. The deliberations at the meeting were not immediately known. Neither Jaitley, who had tweeted his letter written to Modi that he does not want to have any responsibility in the new government, nor his office immediately commented on the meeting. Modi and his council of ministers would be sworn in at Rashtrapati Bhawan Thursday evening.

"I am writing to you to formally request you that I should be allowed a reasonable time for myself, my treatment and my health and therefore, not be a part of any responsibility, for the present, in the new government," Jaitley said in the letter.

Sources said prime minister acknowledged receipt of Jaitley's letter and also appreciated his contribution towards economy and implementation of GST. However, it was not immediately known if Modi acceded to Jaitley's request. (PTI)

ANI visuals from Arun Jaitley's residence in New Delhi as PM Modi visited the ailing leader on Wednesday evening, ahead of the oath-taking ceremony tomorrow.

Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the residence of Arun Jaitley. pic.twitter.com/iy6zn8EbjI

— ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2019

Capping a landslide election victory, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take oath along with a new council of ministers on Thursday for a second term, as suspense mounted on who will get the Big Four berths--Home, Finance, Defence and External Affairs. Top opposition leaders including Congress President Rahul Gandhi and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, corporate honchos, film stars, chief ministers and a galaxy of leaders from BIMSTEC countries will be on hand to watch President Ram Nath Kovind administer the oath of office and secrecy to 68-year-old Modi and his ministerial colleagues at the forecourt of majestic Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Modi and BJP president Amit Shah held a marathon meeting for the second consecutive day on Wednesday during which they are learnt to have finalised the broad contours the new ministry that is expected to have some new faces besides retaining most of the senior ministers. (PTI)

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will not attend the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi as prime minister on May 30 (Thursday), CMO officials have confirmed. Patnaik on Wednesday took oath as Odisha’s CM for the fifth consecutive time, becoming one of the longest-serving Chief Ministers in India.

Ahead of the PM's swearing-in on Thursday, Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid arrived in Delhi today. The grand event will take place in Rashtrapati Bhavan tomorrow, with over 6,000 guests.

President of Bangladesh Abdul Hamid arrives in Delhi, to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's oath ceremony tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/UlqgEvQryl

— ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2019

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel will not be able to attend PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony due to prior engagements. While talking to reporters Wednesday, he said that he wants to congratulate PM Modi. He said he has sought time from PMO to meet PM Modi later.

Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel: I want to congratulate PM Modi. Due to prior commitments, I will not be able to go for his oath ceremony tomorrow. I have sought time from PMO to meet him later. pic.twitter.com/UuzPl1jg0R

— ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2019

Both Amit Shah and PM Modi on Tuesday held a marathon meeting ahead of the swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday. The two leaders are expected to have discussed upon the council of ministers in the new cabinet. However, there was no official word.

Delhi: BJP President Amit Shah leaves from 7 Lok Kalyan Marg (LKM). pic.twitter.com/r3A7TBej6V

— ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2019

As the 'don't quit Rahul' clamour within the Congress continued to grow on Wednesday, former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today met the Congress President today. She urged Rahul not to resign. "We want him to continue on his post, otherwise it will cause us pain. We have conveyed that to him," she told ANI.

Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit after meeting Rahul Gandhi at his residence: I have given him the message that he should not resign. We want him to continue on his post, otherwise it will cause us pain. We have conveyed that to him. pic.twitter.com/a6bkHsL3P5

— ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2019

Trinamool Congress MLA Manirul Islam joins Bharatiya Janata Party in Delhi. TMC's Gadadhar Hazra, Mohd Asif Iqbal and Nimai Das also join BJP. pic.twitter.com/Y2rOILuZ2f

— ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2019

In another blow for the Trinamool Congress, its MLA Monirul Islam Wednesday joined the BJP, the third legislator to desert the ruling party in West Bengal after the reverses in the Lok Sabha polls, PTI reported. Two TMC legislators and over 50 councillors had joined the BJP on Tuesday. The BJP projected the decision of TMC's Muslim MLA to join the party as a vindication of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's slogan of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwash" (together with all, development for all, trust of all).

Modi gave the slogan in his first address to MP's of BJP-led NDA after the Lok Sabha poll results were declared. He had asked them to win over the trust of minorities with their work. Several other TMC workers also joined the saffron party here in the presence of BJP leaders Mukul Roy and Kailash Vijaywargiya.

Wish @arunjaitley ji speedy recovery and a healthy life. I have known him since many years and despite political differences, I have always found him to be affectionate and warm.

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 29, 2019

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wished a speedy recovery and a healthy life to senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley, who on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to excuse himself from being included in the new government at the Centre citing his illness, reports PTI. Kejriwal praised Jaitley for his affection and warmth while wishing him good health.

"Wish @arunjaitley ji speedy recovery and a healthy life. I have known him since many years and despite political differences, I have always found him to be affectionate and warm," the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo said in a tweet. A day before the swearing-in ceremony of the new government, Jaitley urged Modi to be kept out of it, saying he did not want to be a minister in the new government due to health reasons.

Nepal's Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli will attend the swearing-in ceremony of his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, on Thursday, his press advisor said Wednesday. India invited leaders of the BIMSTEC countries as well as Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov, the current chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth for the Modi's swearing-in.

Besides India, BIMSTEC comprises Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan. In the first back-to-back majority for a single party in over three decades, the Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party won 303 out of the total 542 Lok Sabha seats. "Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli will be paying an official visit to India to attend the swearing-in ceremony of India's Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi," Press Advisor of Oil, Kundan Aryal told PTI.

As Congress faces a leadership crisis in the aftermath of 2019 Lok Sabha poll debacle, party leaders and supporters have been urging Rahul Gandhi to not resign from his post. On Wednesday too, Congress leaders gathered outside the house of Gandhi and expressed their support for him.

Delhi: Jagdish Tytler and other Congress leaders and supporters present outside the residence of Congress President Rahul Gandhi. pic.twitter.com/DzX3ITpi2X

— ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2019

Government offices around the Rashtrapati Bhavan would close early on Thursday in view of the swearing-in ceremony of newly-elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government offices located in the North Block, South Block, Rail Bhawan, Vayu Bhawan, Sena Bhawan, DRDO and Hutments would be closed early at 2.00 pm on May 30 in connection with arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony of the prime minister, an order issued by the Personnel Ministry said, reports PTI. President Ram Nath Kovind will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the prime minister and other members of the Union council of ministers at 7 pm Thursday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Government offices to close at 2 pm tomorrow for ?@PMOIndia? #SwearingIn ?@IndianExpress? pic.twitter.com/3yvGPkwZIh

— abantika ghosh (@abantika77) May 29, 2019

All prominent opposition leaders, chief ministers and governors have been invited for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in for a second term on Thursday, highly-placed sources said Tuesday.

The opposition leaders who have been invited include Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool Congress Chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, JD(S) leader and Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The sources said all chief ministers, governors, former prime ministers and presidents have been sent invitations for the event. They said invitations for the ceremony are being sent to all the major regional and national political parties of the country. (PTI)

A day before the swearing-in ceremony of the new government, former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Wednesday said he has decided not to take any active responsibility in the new government citing his poor health. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jaitley requested that he should not be assigned any responsibility, for the present, in the government.

Adding that he has been suffering from ailments for the past 18 months, Jaitley said he had spoken to the prime minister before his Kedarnath trip about his plans to opt out of the new cabinet.

“After my campaign had concluded and you were leaving for Kedarnath, I had orally informed you that even though I was able to discharge the responsibilities assigned to me during the campaign, I would in near future, for some time, like to keep away from any responsibility. This will enable me to concentrate on my treatment and health,” his letter read. Read More

After the BJP sent invites to the families of those allegedly killed in political violence in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday said she will not attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony on May 30. Rubbishing BJP’s claim that 54 of its workers were “murdered”, Banerjee tweeted: “The ceremony is an august occasion to celebrate democracy, not one that should be devalued by any political party which uses it as an opportunity to score political points.”

“There have been no political murders in Bengal. These deaths may have occurred due to personal enemity, family quarrel and other disputes; nothing related to politics. There is no such record with us,” she added. Read full story here