Modi sworn in for third term as Delhi begins coalition era

Narendra Modi was sworn in as the prime minister of India for a historic third term yesterday, ushering in a new era of coalition politics for the strongman leader.

- Hannah Ellis-Petersen

The ceremony at the presidential palace marked his return to power as only the second leader in India's history to win three consecutive terms.

A beaming Modi stood next to two Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) heavyweights, Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah, who were confirmed to return as cabinet ministers. As he stepped up on the podium to make his pledge to the president, Droupadi Murmu, loud cheers erupted from the vast crowds that had gathered to watch the ceremony.

Modi's third term is likely to take a very different shape from his previous decade in office after his party faced an unexpectedly challenging election. The BJP won the most seats in the polls, which took place over almost two months with the results finally announced on Tuesday, but fell short of an absolute majority.