Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took oath as member of the 18th Lok Sabha. Modi returned to power for a third consecutive term earlier this month. Modi and his Council of Ministers took oath on June 9.
This is the third term of Modi as a member of the Lok Sabha. He retained the Varanasi seat, which he has been winning since 2014. As Leader of the House, he was the first one to take oath.
Earlier in the day, B Mahtab took oath as member of the new House as well as that of pro-tem speaker at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Besides Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari too took oath as a member of the House.
In a significant message ahead of the beginning of the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that a “majority” is required to run the government but “consensus is very important” to run the country.
PM Modi’s remarks are significant as the BJP’s tally in the 18th Lok Sabha is much below the majority mark and the party is dependent on support from its allies in NDA. This is the first time that Modi is heading a coalition government.
Modi also noted that the Emergency’s 50th anniversary falls on June 25, and described it as a “black spot” in India’s democracy when the Constitution was discarded. He also took a jab at the opposition, stating that the people expected good steps from the opposition but it has been disappointing so far.
Responding to the Prime Minister’s speech, Congress chief Mallikarun Kharge wrote on X, “You are reminding us of the 50-year-old Emergency, but have forgotten the last 10 years of Undeclared Emergency, which was ended by the people.”
“People have given their mandate against Modiji. Despite this, if he has become the Prime Minister, then he should work,” he said. “‘People need substance, not slogans’ – remember this yourself. The opposition and INDIA Janbandhan want Consensus in Parliament, we will keep raising the voice of the people in the House, on the streets and before everyone,” Kharge added.
