Modi sworn in as India's prime minister for third term

Reliance on coalition partners could force BJP to take more conciliatory path: Experts

- 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in on June 9 for a third term after worse-than-expected election results left him reliant on coalition partners to govern.

Mr Modi, flanked by top officials from his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and party leaders of his coalition, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), vowed in a ceremony marking his formal assumption of power to “bear true allegiance to the Constitution of India”.

Honour guards lined the steps of the presidential palace where thousands gathered to watch Mr Modi, dressed in a white kurta and a blue waistcoat, take the oath.

President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Mr Modi at a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the president’s palace in New Delhi, attended by thousands of dignitaries, including the leaders of seven regional countries, Bollywood stars and industrialists.

“Honoured to serve Bharat,” Mr Modi posted on X, minutes before he was sworn in, referring to India’s name in Indian languages.

Supporters cheered, clapped and chanted “Modi, Modi” as the 73-year old leader was called to take his oath.

Midway through the inauguration, news came that at least nine people were killed and 33 injured when a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims plunged into a gorge after a suspected militant attack in the federal territory of Jammu and Kashmir, drawing criticism of the security situation from the opposition Congress party.