Narendra Modi was sworn in as India's prime minister on Sunday for a record third term, but as the leader of an uneasy coalition after a stunning setback in the polls that will test his ability to ensure political certainty in the world's most populous nation. world.
President Droupadi Murmu administered oath to Modi in a grand ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace in New Delhi, attended by thousands of dignitaries, including the leaders of seven countries in the region, Bollywood stars and industrialists.
Modi, who started out as a publicist for the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological father of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is only the second person, after independence leader Jawaharlal Nehru, to serve a third consecutive term as prime minister. .
Modi, 73, won the third term in the elections that concluded on June 1 with the support of 14 regional parties of his BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), unlike the previous two terms, when his party obtained an absolute majority.
The result is seen as a major setback for the popular leader as surveys and exit polls had predicted that the BJP would win even more seats than in 2019.
Modi delivered superior global growth and raised India's global standing, but he appeared to have lost a step at home, as a lack of enough jobs, high prices, low incomes and religious failings pushed voters to hold him back.
When Modi was chief minister of the western state of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014, the BJP enjoyed strong majorities, allowing it to govern decisively.
Modi's new term as prime minister is therefore likely to be fraught with challenges in building a consensus on contentious policy issues in the face of differing interests of regional parties and a stronger opposition, analysts say.
Some analysts worry that the fiscal balance in the world's fastest-growing economy could also come under pressure due to demands for higher development funds for states governed by the NDA's regional partners and a possible push by the BJP to spend more on welfare to attract the voters he lost. in this year's elections.
Modi, whose election campaign was marked by religious rhetoric and criticism of the opposition for allegedly favoring India's 200 million Muslim minorities, has adopted a more conciliatory tone since the shocking result.
“We have won the majority… but to govern the country unanimity is crucial… we will fight for unanimity,” he said on Friday after the NDA formally appointed him as coalition head.
