The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) named Narendra Modi as its leader for a third consecutive term on Wednesday, a day after regaining power with a slim majority in the Indian elections.
Modi, who has led Indian politics since 2014, will head a government reliant on regional allies, whose support has varied, potentially complicating the new cabinet's reform plans.
Following the election outcome, Modi submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu after the cabinet recommended the dissolution of parliament, marking the first step before forming a new government.
A meeting of 15 parties in the NDA at Modi's residence followed, where he was formally chosen to lead the alliance.
The NDA won 293 seats in the 543-member lower house of parliament, more than the 272 needed to form a government.
"We all unanimously choose respected NDA leader Narendra Modi as our leader," a BJP-issued alliance statement said. It stated that the NDA government would "preserve India's heritage" and work for the "all-round development of the country."
Modi is set to meet Murmu again on Friday to present his claim to form a government, and the swearing-in could take place over the weekend, an NDA leader told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
Local media reported that the ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, June 8.
The Election Commission of India has declared results for all Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament) constituencies, with the BJP winning 240 of the 543 seats and the Congress 99.
The BJP, whose candidates contested in the name of Modi, won in 240 seats, falling short of the 272 majority mark and needing the support of allies in the party-led NDA for government formation, a far cry from the 303 and 282 seats it had won in 2019 and 2014, respectively, to have a majority on its own.
With support from key allies N Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), which won 16 and 12 seats in Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, respectively, and other alliance partners, the NDA crossed the halfway mark.
(Agencies)
Dharavi slum in Mumbai
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)