Modi Invited to Form Government

India's President, Droupadi Murmu, has invited Narendra Modi, the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), to form the government.

According to an NDTV report, Modi formally requested to form the government during a visit to the presidential palace on Friday, June 7. Following his request, the President invited him to take the oath of office. Modi and his cabinet members will be sworn in on Sunday, June 9, at 6 PM local time.

After a lengthy voting process spanning a month and a half, the Election Commission of India announced the results on Tuesday, June 4. Despite exit polls predicting over 350 seats out of 543 for the NDA, the BJP-led alliance secured 292 seats, while the Congress-led India alliance won 233 seats.

The BJP, which had secured a majority in the previous two terms, won 240 seats independently this time. With 272 seats needed to form a government, Modi must rely on coalition partners.

On Wednesday, June 5, NDA leaders met and unanimously selected Modi as the alliance leader and the next Prime Minister. Following the meeting, BJP announced that Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar had signed letters of support for the NDA. Modi was then formally elected as the NDA leader, with prominent coalition members participating in a photo session.

Local news reported that Modi and his cabinet submitted their resignations to the President on Wednesday afternoon. That evening, they attended a farewell dinner hosted by the President. During the dinner, Modi presented a letter claiming the right to form the government, which the President accepted, inviting the NDA to form the new administration.

On Friday afternoon, Modi met with President Murmu again to seek formal approval to form the government. BJP sources stated that Modi presented letters of support from 21 NDA leaders. Subsequently, the President authorized the formation of the government.

A statement from the presidential palace confirmed, "The President has appointed Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister of India." 

Addressing reporters in front of the presidential palace after his meeting with the President, Modi said, "This morning, the entire NDA coalition chose me as their leader and informed the President. The President has now called me and appointed me as the Prime Minister. I have informed the President that the oath-taking ceremony will be convenient on Sunday evening."