Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi is set to take the oath of office in New Delhi on Sunday. The ceremony will see the attendance of numerous foreign dignitaries, including leaders from neighbouring countries, as part of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. Notably, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will depart Dhaka for Delhi at 11 am today.
Modi, who has been elected for his third term following the recent general elections, will also meet these visiting leaders the following day. Among the expected attendees is Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, whose pro-China stance has recently strained Indo-Maldivian relations. Muizzu, along with several senior Maldivian officials, is anticipated to leave for New Delhi on Saturday.
The swearing-in ceremony will be attended by the heads of governments from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Mauritius, and Seychelles. Confirmed attendees include Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, and Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda. Both Dahal and Wickremesinghe are expected to arrive in Delhi on June 9, while PM Hasina is likely to fly to Delhi today.
Bangladesh PM’s Speech Writer, M Nazrul Islam, stated, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave Dhaka for Delhi at 11 am on Saturday, June 8, and will return home at noon on June 10 after attending the swearing-in ceremony of PM Narendra Modi, due to the change in the oath-taking ceremony dates.”
India’s invitation to these leaders underscores its commitment to fostering strong relations with its neighbours. Muizzu’s attendance could signal a step towards improving ties between India and the Maldives, especially given the recent tensions since Muizzu’s rise to power in November 2023. This follows a precedent set by former Maldives President Abdullah Yameen, who attended Modi’s oath ceremony in May 2014.
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance secured a victory in India’s general elections with 293 seats, while the Opposition’s INDIA bloc won 234 seats.
