Sonia, Rahul Gandhi to Attend Modi’s Oath-Taking Ceremony as PM
Sources in the government indicate that major changes can be expected in the next Cabinet.
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Both UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi would be attending Narendra Modi’s oath-taking ceremony as prime minister scheduled for Thursday, 30 May.
Meanwhile, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday that she has been “compelled not to attend” Modi’s swearing-in, adding that the ceremony should not be used as an “opportunity to score political points.”
In her statement, the TMC supremo alluded to media reports where the BJP is “claiming 54 people have been murdered in political violence in Bengal” and called it “completely untrue”. “There have been no political murders in Bengal,” she said.
According to sources cited by PTI, all chief ministers, governors and leaders of all opposition parties have been invited for Modi’s swearing-in ceremony.
President Ram Nath Kovind will administer the Oath of Office and Secrecy to Modi and other members of the Union Council of Ministers on 30 May at 7 pm at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi.
- Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao will be attending the ceremony
- However, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan will not attend Modi’s swearing-in, the chief minister’s office said
- The Modi-led government is likely to present the full budget for the financial year 2019-2020 on 10 July
Naveen Patnaik Not to Attend Modi's Swearing-In Ceremony
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will not attend the swearing-in ceremony of PM Narendra Modi on Thursday.
“The newly elected members of the 16th Vidhan Sabha (Assembly) will take oath tomorrow. As leader of the House, the chief minister will be present during the occasion. So, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will not be able to visit Delhi tomorrow to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the prime minister and his council of ministers,” an official communication issued by the Chief Minister's Office said on Wednesday
Rahul Gandhi to Also Attend Modi's Swearing-In
Along with Sonia Gandhi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi will also be attending Narendra Modi’s oath-taking ceremony as PM on Thursday.
Sonia Gandhi to Attend Modi's Oath-Taking Ceremony
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi would be attending Modi’s oath-taking ceremony as prime minister on Thursday, reported NDTV.
Govt Offices to Be Closed Early For Modi's Swearing-In
The government offices located in Delhi’s North Block, South Block, Rail Bhawan, Vayu Bhawan, Sena Bhawan and DRDO would be closed at 2 pm on Thursday in connection with the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi as PM.
Mamata Banerjee to Skip Modi's Swearing-In
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday, 29 May, that she has been “compelled not to attend” Narendra Modi’s oath-taking ceremony as prime minister, adding that the ceremony should not be used as an “opportunity to score political points.”
In her statement, the TMC supremo alluded to media reports where the BJP is “claiming 54 people have been murdered in political violence in Bengal” and called it “completely untrue”. “There have been no political murders in Bengal,” she said.
A day earlier, Banerjee had said she would try and attend the swearing-in.
Families of Killed BJP Workers Invited for Ceremony
Kin of BJP workers (who were killed in West Bengal in political violence) have been invited to the swearing-in ceremony of PM Narendra Modi. Son of Late Manu Hansda says, "My father was killed by TMC goons. We are happy that we are going to Delhi. There's peace in our area now,” ANI reported.
Ram Vilas Paswan Is LJP's Choice for Ministerial Berth in Modi Govt
Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan is likely to represent his Lok Janshakti Party in the Modi government, which will be sworn in on May 30, after the party passed a resolution Tuesday, recommending his name for a ministerial berth.
The LJP's parliamentary board passed a resolution to this effect at a meeting, which was attended by its six newly-elected Lok Sabha MPs, the board's chairman and Ram Vilas Paswan's son Chirag Paswan told reporters, PTI reported.
KCR to Attend Modi's Swearing-In Ceremony
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has confirmed his presence at Modi’s swearing in ceremony, NDTV reported.
Kejriwal to Attend Modi's Swearing-In Ceremony: Official
AAP national convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal will attend the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi as PM on Thursday.
The chief minister has been invited for the ceremony and he will attend it, a Delhi government official confirmed to PTI.
Foreign Leaders Who Have Confirmed Their Participation for Swearing-In Ceremony
Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid, Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena, Kyrgyzstan President Sooronbay Jeenbekov, Myanmar President U Win Myint, Mauritius PM Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli, Bhutan PM Lotay Tshering, and special envoy of Thailand Grisada Boonrach have confirmed their participation at the swearing-in ceremony of PM-elect Narendra Modi on 30 May, the MEA official spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Mamata Banerjee to Attend PM-Elect Modi's Oath-Taking Ceremony
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said that she would try and attend PM-elect Narendra Modi’s oath-taking ceremony.
“I have spoken to other chief ministers also. Since it is a ceremonial program we thought of attending it,” ANI quoted Banerjee as saying.
Rajnikanth, Kamal Haasan Invited for Swearing-in Ceremony
The top stars of Tamil cinema, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, have been invited for the May 30 swearing-in of Narendra Modi, sources close to the stars said, reported PTI.
While Haasan, whose fledgling political party Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) had made its electoral debut this Lok Sabha polls, Rajinikanth is yet to formalise his December 2017 announcement on taking the political plunge.
Sources close to both actors acknowledged the two being invited to Modi's swearing-in scheduled on Thursday, but did not divulge if the veterans would participate.
Incidentally, Haasan has been opposed to the BJP, even expressing joy that the party which swept the Lok Sabha seats in rest of the country, did not win a single seat in Tamil Nadu, saying the state did not toe the national line.
BIMSTEC Leaders Invited to Narendra Modi's Oath-taking Ceremony
The BIMSTEC leaders will likely attend Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony on 30 May, sources told ANI. BIMSTEC stands for Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Techinal and Economic Cooperation and its member states are Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan.
Cut Corporate Tax, Abolish MAT in Forthcoming Budget: FICCI
As the BJP-led NDA government gears up for its second term, industry body Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) on Friday, 24 May, sought reduction in corporate tax and abolition of Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) to spur investment, reported PTI.
"The key recommendation was that the focus of the government should be to spur domestic investment and in order to retain India's competitiveness globally, corporate tax rate cut should be considered," FICCI said after its delegation met Revenue Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey as part of the pre-budget discussion.
In the 2015-16 budget, the government had announced that the corporate tax rate would be gradually lowered to 25 percent from 30 percent over the next four years and exemptions available to companies would be phased out.
In the subsequent years, the tax rate was reduced to 25 percent for companies with a turnover of up to Rs 250 crore.
During the meeting, FICCI said with phasing out of exemptions and deductions available under the Income Tax Act and to avoid complexities arising under new accounting norms, there is a need to review the concept of MAT.
Full Budget Likely to be Presented on 10 July: Reports
The Narendra Modi-led government is likely to present the full budget for the financial year 2019-2020 on 10 July, reported Moneycontrol.
A senior government source told Moneycontrol the date will be decided after the swearing-in ceremony and a minister takes charge of the ministry.
“But it will be around 10 July in all probability," the source said. The official said that usually the budget exercise gets over by 15 July after the government formation.
"The budget meetings have already begun. So a date will also be finalised soon," the official told Moneycontrol.
On Sunday, 26 May, industry body Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) said the new government should take urgent steps to ease the financial burden on the stressed telecom sector, slash overall levies to an ideal 4-5 percent and review spectrum prices to make it affordable ahead of the crucial 5G rollout, reported PTI.
The mobile operators' association is hoping that some of its long-pending demands will be taken up in the coming months.
Topping its wishlist is cut in levies, as the industry hopes that the current level of 30 percent levy would be reduced to provide a breather to the stressed sector.
"Charges like Licence Fee, Spectrum Usage Charges and redefinition of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) needs to be looked at," Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) Director General Rajan Mathews told PTI.
Who Will Stay, Who Will Get New Berths?
A number of senior faces from the outgoing cabinet including Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Piyush Goyal, Narendra Singh Tomar and Prakash Javadekar are expected to figure in the new cabinet, reported PTI.
Speculation has been rife that BJP president Amit Shah, who won the Lok Sabha election from Gandhinagar with a massive margin, may also join the government. Shah has refrained from commenting on the matter.
Another BJP ally LJP president Ram Vilas Paswan, sources said, has pushed for induction of his MP-son Chirag Paswan in the government.
His party LJP won six seats in the polls. Ram Vilas Paswan, one of the most veteran parliamentarians, was a Cabinet minister in the last government.
Though the AIADMK, which was also not part of the previous government, has won only one seat, it may be given a ministerial berth as it is in power in Tamil Nadu and a key Dravidian ally of the BJP.
Narendra Modi, Cabinet to Take Oath as PM on 30 May at 7 pm
President Ram Nath Kovind will administer the Oath of Office and Secrecy to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other members of the Union Council of Ministers on 30 May at 7 pm at Rashtrapati Bhavan, an official communique on Sunday said.
Members of the Union Council of Ministers will also take oath along with him, ANI reported.
PM Modi Meets YSRCP Chief Jaganmohan Reddy
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met YSRCP chief Jaganmohan Reddy on Sunday. V Vijaya Sai Reddy and other leaders of YSRCP were also present at the meeting.
YSRCP Chief Jaganmohan Reddy to Meet Modi Today
YSR Congress Party president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister designate YS Jaganmohan Reddy is scheduled to meet PM Narendra Modi in the national capital on Sunday.
Reddy, whose party stormed to power with a landslide victory in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday, is likely to discuss providing outside or issue-based support to the Modi government in the meeting, sources cited by PTI said on Saturday.
The meeting assumes importance as the YSRCP chief, during the election campaign, had said that his party would support whoever promises Andhra Pradesh the Special Category Status.
According to an official source, the YSRCP chief will arrive in the national capital on Sunday morning and will meet the prime minister at noon.
Reddy will take oath as new chief minister of the state on 30 May in Vijayawada.
In a spectacular performance, Reddy's party had won 151 of 175 Assembly seats and 22 Lok Sabha seats out of 25 in Andhra Pradesh, the elections for which were held on 11 April.
PM Modi Arrives at Rashtrapati Bhavan
PM Narendra Modi met President Ram Nath Kovind and staked claim to form the next government.
NDA Delegation Meets PM Modi, Stakes Claim to Form Govt
The NDA delegation handed over a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind,stating that Narendra Modi had been elected leader of the BJP Parliamentary Party.
Letters of support from NDA constituent parties were also handed over to the President.
'Minority In Country Feel Cheated,' Says PM Modi
Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi said that the vote bank politics has created a sense of fear among the poor and minority in the country.
“Just like the poor, the minority of this country too has been cheated. Vote bank politics has created this fear,” said Modi.
He asserted that his government will bring together people belonging to different communities.
“We can bring all Indians together for a brighter future,” said Modi.
Modi Asks MPs to 'Think of Both Kashmir & Kerala'
Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi asserted while the MPs may have been elected from different parts of the country, they have to remember they are India’s lawmakers.
“You may have been elected from somewhere but you are India's lawmaker, you have to think of Kashmir and Kerala both,” PM Narendra Modi tells parliamentarians.
No Such Thing As Off Record: PM Warns NDA MPs
Narendra Modi also added that NDA has two essential things – one is energy and second is synergy.
“We have to go forward with this slogan of 'NARA' - National Ambition and Regional Aspirations,” said Modi.
He warned the NDA MPs to not say “irresponsible things, things that hurts the party and their cause.”
Modi added that one must not believe anyone who says they are going to be a minister.
“Never believe anybody who says you are going to be a minister, it will all be according to norms,” says PM Narendra Modi.
'Pro-Incumbency Wave Tied to Trust,' Says Modi
Narendra Modi, addressing the NDA leaders at Parliamentary Board meet, said that the “pro-incumbency wave” shown in the 2019 Lok Sabha results was “tied to a thread of trust.”
“These elections were pro-incumbency. This pro-incumbency wave is tied with the thread of trust...The trust was not only between people and govt but also among people themselves. This gave birth to that trust,” said Modi.
He said that the BJP got more votes than the entire share of votes US President Donald Trump got when he was elected.
Amit Shah Thanks NDA Leaders for Endorsing Modi
“I thank all the allies and the MPs who have unanimously chosen NDA's leader Narendra Modi as the new Prime Minister of the country,” said Amit Shah, thanking the allies.
NDA Leaders Endorse Modi for Prime Ministership
SAD's Parkash Singh Badal proposes Narendra Modi's name as the leader of NDA Parliamentary Party. JDU Chief Nitish Kumar and Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray endorse the proposal.
BJP-Led NDA Elects Modi as Leader During Parliamentary Board Meet
The BJP-led NDA Narendra Modi elected as the leader during their Parliamentary Board meet on Saturday, 25 June. Modi will then call on President Kovind staking claim to form the new government later today.
PM Modi Arrives at NDA Meet
NDA Meet Underway
Senior BJP leaders LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi are also present at the NDA parliamentary meeting.
NDA MPs Arrive for Parliamentary Board Meet
Newly elected MPs and other leaders arrive for the NDA Parliamentary Board meeting.
PM Modi to Address Media at Rashtrapati Bhawan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address media at Rashtrapati Bhawan, reported News18.
Uddhav Thackeray Arrives in Delhi for NDA Meet
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray arrives in Delhi for NDA meeting, to be held today.
CEC Sunil Arora Submits List of Lok Sabha Elections Winners to President
The full Election Commission on Saturday, 25 May, called on President Ram Nath Kovind and handed over the list of 542 newly-elected members of the Lok Sabha that will enable him to initiate the formal process of new government formation, reported PTI.
Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and the other two Commissioners, Ashok Lavasa and Sushil Chandra, met the President at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and gave him a copy of the notification issued by the poll body in terms of provisions of the Representation of the People Act containing the names of MPs elected in the just-concluded polls.
While the notification sets in motion the constitution of the 17th Lok Sabha, the list given to the President enables him to initiate government formation process.
President Kovind Signs Order of Dissolving 16th Lok Sabha
President Ram Nath Kovind Saturday dissolved the 16th Lok Sabha with immediate effect on recommendation of the Union Cabinet, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a statement.
A communique issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said the President dissolved the Lok Sabha after a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi made such a recommendation on Friday, 25 May.
"The President has accepted the advice of the Cabinet on 24.05.2019 and signed the Order dissolving the 16th Lok Sabha," it said.
No Information on List of Foreign Dignitaries Set to Attend Modi's Swearing-in: MEA Sources
While The Hindu reported that Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena will attend PM Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony scheduled to be held in New Delhi on 30 May, a source in the MEA told The Quint , “At the moment, we have no information on this matter (list of foreign dignitaries set to attend Modi’s swearing-in). We will share details with the media once a decision is taken.”
PM Modi Thanks PMO Staff
PM Modi to Go to Gujarat, Varanasi Tomorrow
President Kovind Hosts Banquet in Honour of Modi, Council of Ministers
President Kovind hosted a banquet in honour of the outgoing Union Council of Ministers, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
NDA MPs to Formally Elect Narendra Modi as PM on 25 May
Newly elected MPs of the BJP-led NDA will meet on Saturday, 24 May, to formally elect Prime Minister Narendra Modi as their leader, setting in motion the process of government formation.
The BJP said the meeting will take place in Parliament's Central Hall at 5 pm. Prior to this, BJP MPs will meet separately at Parliament House.
Modi is expected to address the MPs following his election as their leader.
With Modi already being announced as the prime ministerial candidate of the alliance, the meeting is being considered a mere formality.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has got more than 350 members in Lok Sabha, including 303 of the BJP.
According to sources, Modi is likely to visit his parliamentary constituency Varanasi on 28 May, before oath-taking by new members on 30 May.
Jaitley Meets Top Finance Ministry Officials
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Friday met all the five secretaries of his ministry as well as the chairpersons of the two apex tax bodies CBDT and CBIC.
Finance Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg, Revenue Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Expenditure Secretary G C Murmu, Financial Services Secretary Rajiv Kumar and DIPAM Secretary Atanu Chakraborty were present in the meeting.
Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Chairman P C Mody and Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Chairman P K Das also attended the meeting at Jaitley's residence.
Jaitley, 66, has not attended office for the past three weeks due to failing health. He missed the cabinet meeting where a resolution for the 16th Lok Sabha was passed, a day after the massive victory of the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections.
Modi Tenders Resignation With Council of Ministers to President Kovind
Narendra Modi met the President of India on Friday, 24 May, to tender his resignation as the Prime Minister along with his council of ministers, before forming the new cabinet.
The President has accepted the resignation and requested Modi and the Council of Ministers to continue till the new Government assumes office.
Election Commission Finishes Counting; 303 Seats to BJP
The Election Commission finished counting of votes for all 542 Lok Sabha seats on Friday, 24 May. The BJP stands at 303 seats, followed by Congress at 52 and DMK at 23 seats.
Arun Jaitley Misses Cabinet Meeting Due to Bad Health
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley missed the Union Cabinet meeting on Friday, 24 May, due to bad health, reported ANI. An exclusive report by Reuters said Jaitley is unlikely to continue in his current role.
Union Cabinet Recommends Dissolution of 16th Lok Sabha
The Union Cabinet on Friday, 24 May, recommended the dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha, government sources told PTI.
After the Cabinet's recommendation, President Ram Nath Kovind is now expected to dissolve the present Lok Sabha, the term of which is ending on 3 June.
All Eyes on New Govt Formation
As the BJP swept to power with a spectacular performance for a second term, all eyes are now on government formation, amid speculation that several new faces including party president Amit Shah may be brought into the new cabinet.
Many party leaders are of the view that Shah will join the Modi Cabinet and be given one of the four key ministries – Home, Finance, External Affairs and Defence.
With Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj having health issues, there have been talks whether they will be part of the new dispensation or not.
Jaitley, a Rajya Sabha member, had unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha election from Amritsar in 2014, while Swaraj, who had won from Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh, opted out from the electoral battle this time on health ground.
The two leaders have not commented on whether they would like to join the government or not
In the run-up to the results, Shah had also sidestepped queries on him joining the government, saying it is the prerogative of the party and the prime minister.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to continue with a key role in the new government.
A number of senior faces from the outgoing cabinet including Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Piyush Goyal, Narendra Singh Tomar and Prakash Javadekar are set to figure in the new cabinet.
Among allies, Shiv Sena and JD(U) are likely to be given cabinet berths as both the parties have done exceedingly well, winning 18 and 16 respectively.
The party will reward new faces from states like West Bengal, Odisha and Telangana where it has made significant inroads.
What to Expect at the Cabinet Meeting?
The Union Cabinet will meet on Friday, 24 May, evening to recommend the dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha.
After the Cabinet's recommendation is passed in the form of a resolution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narendra Singh Tomar are likely to meet President Ram Nath Kovind to hand over the resolution as well as the resignation of the Council of Ministers, official sources said Friday.
"The PM would then be asked to continue till the new government is formed. Date for the swearing-in ceremony will be fixed," explained former Lok Sabha secretary-general and constitutional expert P D T Acharya.
He said the president will dissolve the present Lok Sabha, the term of which is ending on June 3. "If it is not dissolved, it will get automatically dissolved on June 3 ... It is a mere formality," he said.
The 17th Lok Sabha has to be constituted before 3 June and the process to form a new House will be initiated when the three election commissioners meet the president in the next few days to hand over the list of newly elected members.
All the newly elected BJP MPs may meet Saturday to elect Modi as their leader, following which he will meet the president to stake claim to form the new government, party sources said.
PM Modi's Swearing-In Likely on 30 May: Report
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Varanasi on 28 May, followed by a visit to Gujarat on 29 May, a BJP source cited by CNN-News18 said. The swearing-in is likely to happen on 30 May.
'Murli Manohar Joshi is a Scholar and Intellectual Par Excellence': PM Modi
'BJP's Successes Possible Because of Greats Like Advani': PM Modi
PM Modi Meets LK Advani After Historic Mandate
PM Modi on Friday met veteran BJP leader LK Advani in the presence of the party chief Amit Shah.
He is also expected to meet Murli Manohar Joshi later on Friday. Both Advani and Joshi are members of BJP’s margdarshak mandal.
Cabinet Meeting at 5 pm Today
A Cabinet meeting will be held at 5 pm on Friday at the South Block, followed by an outgoing Council of Ministers meeting at 5:30 pm. The Cabinet will be passing a resolution to dissolve the 16th Lok Sabha.
Major Changes in the Cabinet: Berth for Amit Shah, New Role for Jaitley?
The BJP’s mandate in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls could usher in some major changes in the next Cabinet, according to sources in the government.
This shuffle is likely to affect some of the top portfolios including the Home Ministry and Finance Ministry. BJP leaders who have inched the party towards victory in the Lok Sabha polls are likely to be rewarded by Narendra Modi.
After holding the portfolio of MoS in Gujarat, BJP President Amit Shah could be awarded the Home Ministry in the central government. This could mean a change in berth for present Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Shah’s induction into the Cabinet would also leave the position of BJP chief open.
The Modi government could also replace Finance Minister Arun Jaitley with an alternative.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal could be a viable option for handling charge of the Finance Ministry. Goyal took over temporary additional change of the portfolio between May and August 2018, during Jaitley’s absence for medical treatment.
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Published: 24 May 2019,08:48 AM IST