PM Modi begins third term amid challenges of coalition government, renewed opposition

Narendra Modi has been sworn in as India’s prime minister for the third time in a row, becoming the second prime minister after Jawaharlal Nehru to hold the office for three consecutive terms. 

But unlike his previous two terms, this time Modi has two challenges at hand, one helming a coalition government and the other a formidable opposition. 

Modi’s swearing-in ceremony on June 9 had a wide array of guests in attendance, which included heads of neighboring nations to prominent Bollywood personalities and business tycoons. 

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Mauritius Premier Pravind Kumar Jugnauth were among the distinguished guests at the event. 

Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar and Shahrukh Khan, along with business personalities Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani also attended the ceremony.

Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge also attended the swearing-in ceremony. 

Despite the exit polls predicting a massive win for the Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the party had a below-par performance in this Lok Sabha election, with its seat count dropping from 303 in the last election to 240 this time, falling short of the majority mark of 272. However, the 73-year-old leader has managed to retain power with the support of BJP allies in the NDA coalition.

Modi has retained his key cabinet ministers from his last term which includes Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, and Nirmala Sitharaman. PM Modi has also included 11 members from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) parties in the coalition government with key allies Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Janata Dal (United), Janata Dal (Secular) and Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas (LJP-RV) getting one cabinet berth each.

The Opposition, led by the Indian National Congress (INC) and other regional parties collectively known as INDIA, has made a surprising return, securing 232 seats out of 543, which is double their strength from the last election marking a significant challenge for the Government.

The INDI alliance made significant seat gains, especially in the BJP-governed states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Haryana. The regional Samajwadi Party a member of the INDIA bloc won a whopping 37 seats in Uttar Pradesh.

Congratulating the newly elected MPs, former President of INC, Sonia Gandhi said, “Many wrote our obituaries, but we are still here, and we will continue to fight for the rights of the people.”

"I am deeply conscious of the great responsibility all of you have placed on me yet again. Let me first of all greet and congratulate all the newly elected Lok Sabha MPs. You have fought a tough election under the most challenging of circumstances. You have surmounted many obstacles and campaigned so very effectively,” Sonia Gandi said while addressing the party's parliamentary party meeting on June 9. 

She has been re-elected as the Congress parliamentary party chief. She further noted that the party’s new improved numbers in the Parliament will give it a more effective voice in the Parliament's proceedings. 

Congress, the main Opposition party won 99 seats this time, a significant jump from its previous tally of 52. In the 2014 elections, the Congress performed its worst ever, finishing with a mere 44 seats.

"Your success has given us a much, much greater presence in the Lok Sabha and a more effective voice in its proceedings, both of which will help give greater strength to our participation," she said.

Underlining Rahul Gandhi’s role in the stunning comeback, Sonia Gandhi said that his “Bharat Jodo Yatra and the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra were historic movements which rejuvenated the party at all levels.”

As Modi is all set to lead a coalition government, the unpredictable nature of its major allies could pose a challenge and even a threat to his power.

Experts have predicted pressure on the country’s fiscal balance as the NDA’s allies could push the government into getting higher development funds for their states.

Since the 18th Lok Sabha election result, Modi’s more pompous demeanor has softened as his once domineering remark of “56-inch chest” turned into him acknowledging that people want his government to deliver better.

In a speech ahead of his swearing-in, Modi said, “To run the government, a majority is necessary. But to run the nation, a consensus is necessary. The people want us to deliver better than before.”