NEW DELHI: A full-strength team of all NDA partners is set to take the oath alongside Narendra Modi at the swearing-in ceremony, likely scheduled for Sunday evening, in the presence of South Asian leaders.
Sources indicate that the allocation of government positions for allies will be determined in discussions starting after Modi is elected leader of the NDA parliamentary party on Friday afternoon.
The build-up to government formation has been accompanied by speculation about allies seeking important portfolios and ensuring secure representation due to the cruciality of their support for the BJP.
However, sources close to the BJP and its two key allies, TDP and JD(U), have stated that no discussions on portfolios and the size of their share have taken place yet. “It is going to be the prime minister’s call,” a BJP source said.
Official sources have confirmed that Maldives President, Mohamed Muizzu has accepted India’s invitation to attend the ceremony, along with other South Asian leaders such as Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Nepalese PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal, and Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
Bilateral ties with the Maldives have been strained under Muizzu, who is seen as close to China, although he was among the first to congratulate Modi on his record-equalling third term.
BJP president J P Nadda, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Home Minister Amit Shah have consulted with RSS leaders, including General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale and senior functionary Suresh Soni.
Strong indications suggest that the swearing-in may occur on Sunday instead of Saturday, authorities placed both the options and accordingly the preparations will made at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
In response to media reports speculating that the TDP is asking for the Speaker post, party sources have denied setting any such condition. A senior source noted, “Even when our late leader G M C Balayogi served as Speaker starting in 1999, it was then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee who convinced N Chandrababu Naidu to nominate someone from TDP for the position. We have made no demands for any ministry either.”
