Narendra Modi to be sworn in as India's PM for record third time today

NEW DELHI: Narendra Modi is set to take the oath as India's prime minister for a record-equalling third time today.

Indian President Droupadi Murmu will administer the oath to Modi and the members of the Council of Ministers at Rashtrapati Bhawan, the official residence of the president, at 7:15 PM local time (6:45 PM PST), as reported by Indian media.

Security arrangements in the capital have been significantly heightened with additional deployment of police, army, and traffic personnel, along with a three-layered security apparatus at the presidential residence. Additionally, Delhi has been declared a "no-fly zone" ahead of the swearing-in ceremony.

Since coming to power in 2014, Modi has, for the first time, required the support of regional allies, as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 240 constituencies, falling short of the majority of 272 constituencies. Two allies in Modi's National Democratic Alliance coalition, the Telugu Desam Party from Andhra Pradesh and the Janata Dal (United) from Bihar, have pledged their support. Overall, the alliance won 293 seats in the Lok Sabha, the 543-member lower house of parliament.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi, Modi's chief rival and Congress leader, was nominated on Saturday to lead India's opposition in parliament after an election result that brought his party out of the political wilderness. Defying expectations and exit polls, Gandhi helped his Congress party nearly double its parliamentary numbers, achieving its best result since Modi first came to power a decade ago. A meeting of the Congress leadership voted unanimously to recommend Gandhi’s election as India's official opposition leader, a position left vacant since 2014.

Several world leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, British PM Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and PM Mohammed Bin Salman, have congratulated Modi on being elected as the country's premier for the third time.

The swearing-in ceremony will be attended by more than 8,000 dignitaries, including Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of Maldives Mohamed Muizzu, Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina, Mauritius PM Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Bhutan's PM Tshering Tobgay, and Nepalese PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda."

'Right of Indians to decide their own leadership'
On the other hand, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has not yet congratulated Modi on winning the elections.

Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, during a media talk, was asked if Pakistan has officially congratulated Modi on his election as the PM and the country's take on the Indian elections.

"It is the right of the people of India to decide about their own leadership. We do not have any comments on their electoral process. Regarding your first question, I think this question is premature. As far as I understand, the process of formation of government is ongoing," said Baloch.

To another query, the spokesperson said that Pakistan has always desired cooperative relations with all its neighbors, including India. 

"We have consistently advocated constructive dialogue and engagement to resolve all outstanding issues, including the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir," she said.

The spokesperson said Pakistan still believes in peaceful coexistence and wants peace and stability in the region, hoping that India will take steps to create a conducive environment for the advancement of peace and dialogue and the resolution of long-standing disputes for the mutual benefit of the people of both countries.