| | | Narendra Modi took oath as India’s Prime Minister for the third straight time in a glittering ceremony in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday evening, scripting history as only the second man after Jawaharlal Nehru to achieve the feat. | | The Big Story Modi 3.0: New NDA era begins Dressed in a white kurta and a blue jacket, Modi swore true faith and allegiance to the Constitution as the country’s 17th PM and took charge of a coalition government after his party was diminished in numbers following a general elections setback. The 72-member council (including Modi) of ministers was crafted with a focus on carefully balancing regional and community representation, managing both the demands of allies as well as seniority of leaders. The BJP was successful in deftly managing the demand of allies while retaining top positions and senior portfolios for itself, as well as a majority of ministerial berths. “I, Narendra Damodardas Modi, do swear in the name of God that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India…” he said. Honour guards lined the steps of the presidential palace and a military brass band played as he took oath. Read More | | The Big Question Why did VK Pandian quit? Pandian says quitting politics after twin electoral debacles in Odisha VK Pandian, former bureaucrat and outgoing Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s close aide, on Sunday announced his withdrawal from “active politics”, five days after the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) faced a drubbing at the hands of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in both the assembly and Lok Sabha elections. The former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, who spearheaded the BJD’s poll campaign and was often targeted by the BJP over his Tamil origin, also apologised for the 26-year-old regional outfit’s worst-ever electoral performance in the recently concluded simultaneous polls. “My intent of joining politics was only… only… to assist Naveen babu, and now consciously I decide to withdraw myself from active politics,” Pandian said in a video message posted on his Instagram page. “I am sorry if I have hurt anyone on this journey. I am sorry if this campaign narrative against me played a part in BJD’s loss. I apologise to the entire Biju parivar (family), including all the karmis (workers) for this.” Read more. | STORIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED | | | | Photo of the day | | | | Written and edited by Koel Banerjee. Produced by Md Shad Hasnain. | | | | | | | Get the Hindustan Times app and read premium stories | | | | | | View in Browser | Privacy Policy | Contact us You received this email because you signed up for HT Newsletters or because it is included in your subscription. Copyright © HT Digital Streams. All Rights Reserved | | | | |  | |
