Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in for a third term in Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday evening. Several dignitaries and politicians attended the ceremony, which marked the reappointment of key members of Modi’s government. President Draupadi Murmu delivered the oath of office.
Amit Shah stays the Home Minister
Amit Anilchandra Shah, Modi’s longtime confidant and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) political architect, was one of the first to be sworn in. Shah, who had previously served as Union Home Minister, was reappointed. At 59, Shah has been a significant figure in Modi’s ministries, credited with major policy decisions such as the repeal of Article 370 and the enactment of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, highlighting his political importance.
Rajnath Singh, another top BJP leader, took the oath immediately before Shah, followed by Nitin Gadkari, Jagat Prakash Nadda, and several others, including leaders from affiliated parties within the National Democratic Alliance. Notably, HD Kumaraswamy of Janata Dal (Secular) and Rajiv Ranjan Singh of Janata Dal (United) were among the allies sworn in, demonstrating the coalition’s diverse political base.
The new cabinet comprises 30 ministers from various parties, with the BJP holding 24 of these positions. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) secured two cabinet posts, while JD (S), JD (U), Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), Lok Janshakti Party (Ramvilas), and others secured one each.
Smriti Irani Dropped
The new council represents a dramatic upheaval, with 33 first-time ministers joining and 37 ministers being dropped, including famous individuals such as Smriti Irani and Anurag Thakur. The inclusion of seven female ministers, including Nirmala Sitharaman and Annpurna Devi, Anupriya Patel, Raksha Khadse, Savitri Thakur, Shobha Karandlaje, and Nimuben Bambhaniya.
No Muslim Ministers
Despite its diversity, the cabinet’s membership aroused concerns due to the lack of Muslim ministers. This is the first time in the NDA’s reign that there are no Muslim ministers on the council. Furthermore, there are no Muslim MPs among the NDA allies in the current Lok Sabha, as opposed to the 25 Muslim MPs from the opposition India alliance or independents. The exclusion followed the resignation of Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the last Muslim minister, in 2022 after not being re-elected to the Rajya Sabha.
Political analyst Amitabh Tiwari noted, “65% of ministers are from OBC-SC-ST-Minority communities,” indicating the cabinet’s alignment with the party’s broader social outreach strategies.
As Modi 3.0 takes shape, the absence of Muslim representation amidst a diverse coalition points out the political and social discourse in a democratic India.
