The BJP has asked all its newly elected MPs to reach Delhi on Saturday for a parliamentary party meeting, where Narendra Modi will be formally elected as their leader. The meeting is likely to take place in the central hall of the Parliament.
ALSO READ
- Panel pulls up Centre for failing to give EVM-VVPAT tally data for 2019 Lok Sabha polls
- Defeated by BJP's EVM hacking, party sabotage: Congress candidate
- Gehlot in damage-control mode after blaming Pilot for Jodhpur loss
- 'Priyanka did her job, but party, workers could not rise to occasion'
- EVMs a must for democracy, can't be tampered with: BEL CMD
- S. Jaishankar first career diplomat to be appointed foreign minister
This will set in motion the process to the swearing-in of the Union cabinet, which sources said could take place on May 30. However, the date is yet to be officially announced.
Before that, Modi will travel to Varanasi on May 28 to collect his election certificate and thank the voters for the overwhelming victory. Then, he will travel to Gujarat, where he is expected to meet his mother.
There is still suspense over who will make to the Union cabinet as many states have given overwhelming mandates to the BJP. Sources said representation from states like West Bengal, Odisha, Telangana and Bihar is expected to go up as the party's seats have increased in those seats. Modi will also keep in mind the upcoming state elections later this year and next year, so that a message can be given to the electorate. The big question playing on everyone's mind is whether Amit Shah will move to the Union cabinet. This move will necessitate the appointment of a new party president.
Meanwhile, the present Union cabinet met for the last time. A resolution was passed for the dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha. This will be handed over to the President Ramnath Kovind by Prime Minister Modi. When the president receives the list of candidates from the Election Commission, the dates for the swearing-in will be announced. A special two-day session of the house also has to be convened for the oath ceremony of all the Lok Sabha members.
Before the cabinet meeting, Modi and Shah called on party veterans L.K. Advani and M.M. Joshi at their residences. Both Advani and Joshi were denied tickets for the Lok Sabha elections as they were above the cut-off age of 75 years. Even Modi's cabinet could witness several ministers being dropped off to accommodate new faces.
