New Delhi: Narendra Modi was sworn in as the Prime Minister of India for a historic third term on Sunday, alongside 72 ministers whose duties are yet to be assigned. Among the ministers were faces from the BJP’s coalition partners, whose support has been crucial in forming the government.
This marks the first time Modi will share power with his allies since becoming Prime Minister in 2014. Notably, Modi is the second Prime Minister after Jawaharlal Nehru to be elected for a third consecutive term. Here’s how the foreign media covered the swearing-in ceremony:
The New York Times
The New York Times reported a transformed political atmosphere in New Delhi as the new government took office. Without a parliamentary majority, PM Modi turned to a diverse set of coalition partners, who are now enjoying increased relevance and spotlight.
BBC
The BBC maintained an objective reporting style, refraining from in-depth analysis of Modi’s third term and the election results. It did note, however, that the ruling alliance’s victory margin was lower than predicted by exit polls, highlighting a “resurgence of India’s opposition.”
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera pointed out that the lack of a majority will test the BJP’s ability to ensure policy stability in a coalition government. The report highlighted potential challenges from coalition veterans Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu, who have significant political influence and ties across party lines.
Bloomberg
Bloomberg focused on the grandeur of the oath-taking ceremony, attended by 8,000 guests including foreign dignitaries, business tycoons, and Bollywood stars. It emphasized that this is the first time PM Modi will be sharing power with coalition partners while extending his leadership.
AFP
France’s AFP news agency provided a comprehensive overview of the event, detailing the decorations and the crucial support from coalition partners for government formation. While the new cabinet’s details are yet to be revealed, AFP noted that larger coalition parties have demanded significant concessions for their support.