Politics
The event is scheduled to be held on May 30 at 7 pm.
-
IANS -
Wednesday, May 29, 2019 – 19:16
File image/PTI
Nearly 8,000 guests will attend the swearing-in of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday, making it the biggest-ever event held in the historic premises.
While the guests attending the event will be treated to high tea, President Ram Nath Kovind will host a private dinner for the leaders from Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) countries as well as Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov and Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth – who have all confirmed their presence.
The swearing-in will be held in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, the same venue as in 2014. The event then was attended by about 5,000 guests. The size of the gathering is seen as a reflection of the massive mandate received by Modi government in the Lok Sabha elections. Both the BJP and NDA have improved their tally compared to 2014.
“It will be the biggest-ever event at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. 8,000 people are coming,” Ashok Malik, Press Secretary to the President, told IANS.
The Bimstec leaders attending the event include Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Myanmarese President U Win Myint, Nepali Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering. Thailand will be represented by its Special Enovy Grisada Boonrach.
The event will also be attended by leaders of political parties, Ambassadors and diplomats and celebrities from various fields. Congress President Rahul Gandhi, leaders Sonia Gandhi, Anand Sharma, actor Rajinikanth, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister-elect YS Jagan Mohan Reddy are among those who will also be attending the event. Steel magnate L.N. Mittal is also expected to be present.
Among those who will skip the ceremony are West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and DMK Chief MK Stalin. At the time of publishing the story, MK Stalin has not received an invite to the ceremony.