Narendra Modi, leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is scheduled to take office on Sunday as India’s prime minister for the most consecutive terms in history.
A senior party leader said the event would be held at 6pm local time (12:30 GMT).
On Tuesday, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), a BJP-led alliance, won the general election, winning 293 seats.
It was an unexpected result for the BJP. Doesn’t get an outright majority This is as predicted by several exit polls.
This has led to several days of uncertainty over whether the alliance partners will support Modi and the BJP or negotiate with the opposition bloc to form a government.
But on Friday, NDA leaders unanimously backed Prime Minister Modi as the alliance’s leader and prime ministerial candidate.
At a meeting held in the capital Delhi, Prime Minister Modi thanked his allies and said he would make every effort to ensure that the NDA governs the country well and moves forward.
“The NDA has been completed for about 30 years. [as an alliance], this is not an ordinary thing. “It can be said to be the most successful alliance,” he added.
The BJP won 240 seats in the election, a few seats short of the 272 seats it needs to secure a majority in India’s 543-member parliament.
However, the two key BJP allies – Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) won 16 and 12 seats respectively in the state, comfortably pushing the NDA past the mid-point.
Earlier, media reports had speculated that the opposition alliance, which won 234 seats, may approach the TDP and JD(U) to support the bloc and its stake claim to form the government.
The BJP’s announcement on Friday put these speculations to rest.
In the coming days, the coalition will announce the names of ministers and allocate key portfolios.
There will also be interest in whether concessions, such as financial benefits to key ministries or the state, can be granted to regional parties to keep them within the alliance.
Media reports suggest that TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu may ask for special status to be granted to his state, Andhra Pradesh, in return for his support.
This status grants certain financial benefits for the development of the state.
In 2018, Mr. Naidu left the NDA due to differences over this very demand. He rejoined the alliance just months ahead of this year’s general election.
His party has not issued an official statement on those demands.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Modi tendered his resignation to President Drupadi Murmu and Parliament was dissolved. This was an official measure before the new prime minister and lawmakers took office.
