Bangladesh PM Hasina Arrives In Delhi For PM Modi's Swearing-In Ceremony; Who Else Is Expected And When?

In the next 24 hours, heads of state from India’s neighbouring countries will arrive in New Delhi for the historic swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On Sunday, Modi will be crowned as the PM of India for the record-equalling third time. His third term comes as the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 293 seats in the Lok Sabha polls. Under India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, leaders from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Mauritius, and Seychelles have been invited to the ceremony. Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was the first to arrive in India earlier today.

Seychelles Vice President Vincent Meriton will land in the national capital in the evening. On Sunday, the Mauritius Prime Minister is expected to reach Delhi in the morning. Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, who accepted Modi’s invitation today, is also scheduled to reach on Sunday morning. Subsequently, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay will arrive tomorrow at 11:30 am, followed by Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe at 11:50 am. Lastly, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ will arrive in the national capital on Sunday evening.

“First distinguished guest sets foot in New Delhi for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. PM Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh warmly received by Secy (CPV & OIA) @mukteshpardeshi as she arrived in New Delhi. This visit of one of our most valued partners will further strengthen India-Bangladesh’s close and deep-rooted bonds of friendship,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement. The formal invitations were sent on Thursday.

Earlier this week, the media division of the Sri Lankan President’s office said Modi invited him to the swearing-in ceremony. It said Wickremesinghe accepted the invite and congratulated Modi on the electoral victory in a phone call. Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth was also invited to Modi’s swearing-in ceremony.

Modi had a separate phone conversation with Prachanda. The leaders of regional grouping SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries attended Modi’s first swearing-in ceremony when he took the reins as the prime minister after a massive electoral victory for the BJP.

Leaders of the BIMSTEC countries attended Modi’s swearing-in ceremony in 2019 when he became prime minister for the second consecutive term. Modi is likely to take oath on June 8. Though the BJP could not get a majority on its own in the polls, the party-led alliance secured 293 seats out of 543. The majority mark in the Lower House is 272.