On June 7, 2019, Narendra Modi was elected by lawmakers of his National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to serve as India’s Prime Minister for a third consecutive term, marking the return to government by coalition in the world’s most populous nation. Modi went on to meet President Droupadi Murmu to present his claim to form a new government. This marks the first time in ten years that Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has required the support of regional parties to form a government, as they secured only 240 seats in the lower house of parliament, falling short of the 272 needed to govern on their own.
With the NDA winning a total of 293 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha, and the INDIA alliance, led by Rahul Gandhi’s Congress party, winning over 230 seats, lawmakers from the BJP and its allies unanimously voted for Modi to become the leader during the alliance’s first meeting following the vote count on June 4. Modi’s name was proposed by outgoing Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and backed by other outgoing ministers and party leaders. Newly elected lawmakers and senior alliance members showed their support for Modi by applauding and chanting his name.
Modi expressed his gratitude to the lawmakers for electing him as NDA leader with complete consensus, highlighting the importance of both majority and consensus in running the country. The meeting served as a formality after each party had already guaranteed their support earlier in the week, and it showcased the unity between Modi and his new government partners. Leaders such as Chandrababu Naidu praised Modi’s vision, execution, and leadership, proclaiming him as the right leader for the current time in India.
During the meeting, other party leaders honored Modi with a garland of purple flowers, and key supporter Nitish Kumar respectfully bent down to touch Modi’s feet in a traditional gesture of respect. The alliance’s unity and support for Modi’s leadership were evident through their unanimous vote and display of respect and admiration. As Modi begins his third consecutive term as Prime Minister, the focus will be on maintaining unity within the coalition government and working towards fulfilling the promises and vision set forth for the development and progress of India under his leadership.
