After resigning on Wednesday, prep is underway for Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony, which is likely to take place on 8 June. Modi is all set to take charge as the prime minister for a historic third consecutive term with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) winning 293 seats in the Lok Sabha polls.
People familiar with the developments surrounding Modi’s swearing-in have said that invitations have been sent out to a number of world leaders of India’s neighbouring countries, including Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
A PTI news report has added that formal invitations for the same will be sent on Thursday.
But who exactly has Modi invited for his big day? And what’s the significance behind the invites?
Who’s been invited?
Multiple news reports have stated that caretaker PM Modi has extended invitations for his third term swearing-in ceremony to leaders of neighbouring countries such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Mauritius, keeping in mind his ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have confirmed the same, with Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sheikh Hasina already confirming their attendance.
The media office of Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe confirmed that Modi extended an invitation to him for the swearing-in ceremony and Wickremesinghe had accepted the invitation.
It is reported that Modi held a phone conversation with Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina and in the phone conversation, he invited Hasina to attend his swearing-in ceremony and she accepted it.
It has also been said that Nepal’s Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Bhutan’s Tshering Tobgay and Mauritius’ Pravind Jugnauth are set to be invited for Modi’s swearing-in ceremony.
What is the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy?
Modi’s choice of leaders for his oath-taking ceremony, according to experts, is his commitment to the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.
But what is this policy? Conceptualised in 2008, ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy of India is a core component of India’s foreign policy. Before coming to power the first time around, Modi had stated that he would make this a core of his foreign policy.
This ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy guides India’s approach towards the management of its relations with countries in its immediate neighbourhood — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
In simple words, it is aimed at improving physical, digital and people to people connectivity across the region, as well as augmenting trade and commerce.
An ORF report states that the ‘Neighbourhood First’ approach is Modi’s attempt to promote regional stability and prosperity, recognising the importance of a secure and cooperative neighbourhood for India’s overall development and security.
Many geopolitical experts also note that the ‘Neighbourhood First’ approach is India’s attempt of countering China’s growing influence in the region.
And through his years in office, PM Modi has reiterated his commitment to this approach. For instance, when Sri Lanka faced a massive economic turmoil in 2022, India outdid even the IMF by extending a lifeline to their economy in the form of a $4 billion financial and humanitarian assistance. This has led to Colombo pivoting away from China.
Another example of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy is when India sent COVID-19 vaccines worth Rs 22.5928 million to Bangladesh, followed by Rs 9.499 million worth to Nepal.
Another example of his commitment to the approach was that his first foreign visit after COVID-19 was to Bangladesh. Moreover, the two neighbours have come together to ink the historic Land Boundary Agreement .
What about past Modi swearing-in events?
Narendra Modi’s invites for his third oath-taking ceremony follows a past tradition. In 2014, when Modi was sworn-in for his first term, the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) leaders, including then Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif, had been invited and had attended the ceremony.
At the time, Modi had also invited senior BJP and Congress leaders as well as Bollywood actors and top industrialists for the event. Along with Modi, 45 MPs, including seven women, had also been sworn in as ministers.
Then in 2019, Modi had invited leaders of the BIMSTEC countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand for his second swearing-in ceremony. Kyrgyz president and then chair of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Sooronbay Jeenbekov, and Mauritius PM Pravind Kumar Jugnauth were also present at the event. Along with Modi, 24 Union ministers and nine ministers of state had also been sworn in at the event at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
It is still left to be seen who will be sworn in with Modi on 8 June, but experts note that there will be a larger representation from the allies owing to the BJP’s less than stellar performance at the polls.
With inputs from agencies
