Ahead of his swearing-in ceremony, Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi on Sunday engaged in an important interaction with members of Parliament who are poised to take oath as part of his Cabinet and Council of Ministers. This crucial engagement took place at his official residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg in the national capital, setting a focused tone for the evening’s oath ceremony.
The event, characterized as a high tea gathering, saw Modi congratulating all the Members of Parliament (MPs) and imparting crucial advice, urging them not to be swayed by external influences during their tenure. “We need to continue with the Viksit Bharat agenda. Development work will go on without any halt,” he emphasized, underscoring the continuity and progression of his administration’s developmental goals.
In a video shared on social media, NDA leaders were seen attending the meeting at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. The visual captured Modi briefing the incoming ministers, establishing the agenda and setting priorities moving forward. The Prime Minister-designate is set to take the oath for an unprecedented third consecutive term at 7.15 pm.
Manohar Lal Khattar, former Haryana Chief Minister and current MP from Karnal, described the gathering as a customary practice of Modi. “It is a tradition of Narendra Modi that he calls people to his residence for a tea meeting. He only calls those whom he wants to induct into his cabinet,” Khattar noted. He further added that some formalities had been completed and emphasized Modi’s instruction for attendees to remain in Delhi for the next 24 hours. Rao Inderjit Singh and Krishan Pal Gurjar were other notable MPs from Haryana present at the meeting.
Ramdas Athawale, a Rajya Sabha MP from the Republican Party of India, affirmed his upcoming induction into the cabinet later in the evening. “Today, Narendra Modi will take oath as the PM for the third time. It is a matter of pride for the entire country. The oath-taking ceremony will be done today, and the portfolios will be decided tomorrow,” Athawale stated with evident pride, hinting at the logistics to follow. He also mentioned the presence of around 60 NDA leaders at the tea meeting.
Another prominent attendee, BJP leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, shared his sentiments about being included in Modi’s team for a third term. “… The Prime Minister has given me the opportunity to serve the country by including me in his team for the third consecutive time.
. We will work as a team under the leadership of the Prime Minister and will fulfil all the promises and live up to the expectations and aspirations of the country,” Shekhawat eloquently stated, reflecting the collective aspiration of Modi’s would-be ministers.
From JD(U), two-time Rajya Sabha MP Ramnath Kumar, son of former Bihar Chief Minister and Bharat Ratna awardee late Karpuri Thakur, expressed his gratitude for being included in the Cabinet. “On behalf of my family, my party, I express my gratitude to PM Narendra Modi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar… I express my gratitude to them for including a small person like me in the Union Cabinet,” he said, highlighting the inclusivity of Modi’s administration. Thakur relayed Modi’s message of dedicated development work for the people of the country.
Giriraj Singh, fresh off an electoral victory from Bihar’s Begusarai in the general election, also expressed gratitude towards Modi. “I want to thank PM Modi for showing trust in me. There was one discussion that we have to transform India into a ‘Viksit Bharat’. It is not about any particular portfolio. Every department is important,” Singh stated, stressing the unified objective of national development beyond specific departmental boundaries.
Among the other attendees was BJP leader Ajay Tamta from Uttarakhand. He expressed his enthusiasm and commitment to work alongside Modi. “I feel fortunate to get the opportunity to work with the Prime Minister. For this, I thank BJP, all the voters of my constituency, and the Prime Minister…Whatever work I get, I will contribute to taking that work forward with all my strength,” Tamta remarked with determination.
The video of the interaction provided a glimpse into the strategic depth of the meeting, where BJP stalwarts like Manohar Lal Khattar, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Dharmendra Pradhan, Piyush Goyal, and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat were visibly present, indicating their likely inclusion in the new government.
Interestingly, despite his loss in the Ludhiana seat during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP leader and three-time former Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu was also spotted attending the meeting, indicating a potential role in the cabinet. Among other notable attendees were LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, Rajnath Singh, Kiren Rijiju, and Jyotiraditya Scindia, all marked to play significant roles in the forthcoming government.
As the nation watches, the stage is set for Narendra Modi and his carefully selected cabinet to once again steer the country towards the envisioned path of ‘Viksit Bharat’, with a renewed focus on uncompromised developmental work and collaborative governance.
