Modi appointed PM-elect
Indian President Ram Nath Kovind yesterday appointed BJP leader Narendra Modi Prime Minister-elect and invited him to form the new government.
After the BJP and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had unanimously elected him as their leader, Modi reached the Rashtrapati Bhawan last night to stake claim to form the next government, reports Times of India.
Earlier, NDA leaders met the President with a list of their MPs as a proof of the dispensation’s majority in the 17th Lok Sabha.
Modi later told reporters at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, “I am grateful to the NDA leaders for giving me the responsibility.” He said the “massive mandate” given by the people also brings responsibility to fulfil their aspirations.
He also asserted that his government will not sit back and continue with the development work at a faster pace.
“No stone will remain unturned to fulfill the aspirations and dreams of the people,” Modi said.
He underlined that his government will ensure safety and security of every citizen and work for the progress of India.
The outgoing union council of ministers had tendered its resignation on Friday night and Kovind had asked Modi to continue as caretaker PM.
PM Modi is likely to be sworn in next week.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi was adamant on resigning as president of the Congress over its appalling performance in the Indian election even after his offer was unanimously rejected at a meeting yesterday by the party’s top leaders.
Rahul Gandhi, 48, told the Congress Working Committee, which consists of 52 members, that he would like to exit as its top boss nearly a year and a half after he took the job from his mother Sonia Gandhi, who was seated next to him at the meeting that ran four hours, reported NDTV.
“We have to continue our fight. I am and will remain a disciplined soldier of the Congress and continue to fight fearlessly. But I do not want to remain the party president. It is not necessary that the president should be from Gandhi family,” Rahul reportedly said.
The Congress said it “needs him”, spokespersons and representatives said at a briefing that began nearly 45 minutes late amid reports that Rahul was firm on surrendering his status as chief to function as a party worker. Rahul Gandhi did not say a word as he left the meeting; he was tellingly not present at the press conference that was addressed by several Congress leaders.
“Party President Rahul Gandhi offered his resignation but it was unanimously rejected by the members of Congress Working Commission,” Randeep Surjewala, a party spokesman, told re-porters.
Sources say Rahul Gandhi’s mother Sonia Gandhi and sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tried to persuade him to change his mind. Finally, they said it was his decision.
“In a democracy wins and losses keep happening but providing leadership is a different matter. He gave leadership,” senior Congress member Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters after the meeting.
Azad said party barons at the meeting, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh, urged Rahul Gandhi to continue.
The Congress has rarely looked beyond the Nehru-Gandhi family for leadership, against all reason.
The Congress held its post-mortem three days after its net worth in the general election hit 52 seats, just eight up from 2014, which was its worst-ever result.
The BJP increased its majority, taking 303 of the 543 elected seats announced Friday, up from 282.
The complete and total collapse of the appeal of the Congress was exemplified by Gandhi’s defeat in Amethi, the constituency that has been held by his family for four decades and which elected Gandhi for three terms to parliament. In 2014, the BJP’s Smriti Irani lost to him; it has taken her just five years to evict him from a Nehru-Gandhi bastion.
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