India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has commenced his third term in office, following his Bharatiya Janata Party winning 240 seats in the recent election. Although this was not enough to secure a parliamentary majority, Modi formed a coalition government with regional parties to achieve a total of 293 seats. The swearing-in ceremony took place at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi and was attended by various leaders, industrialists and celebrities such as Shah Rukh Khan.
Tight security measures were implemented for the event, with over 2,500 police officers deployed and a no-fly zone declared. Political analysts believe that Modi’s dependence on coalition partners may result in a more consensus-based style of governance, potentially limiting some of the authoritarian tendencies seen in his previous terms. Despite the challenges ahead, Modi’s victory in the election underscores the strength of India’s democracy.
According to Gautam Nair, an assistant professor of public policy at Harvard University, Modi’s nationalist rhetoric may be losing its appeal among voters. However, it remains to be seen whether this shift will lead to changes in policy direction under his leadership in the coalition government. In any case, India’s democratic process continues to evolve and shape its political landscape for the better.