Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal Chief Minister announced on Saturday that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) would not be present at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Sunday swearing-in ceremony. This decision was made after the party met with the newly elected MPs.
VIDEO | "His (PM Modi's) intention was two get two-third majority (in Lok Sabha elections 2024). However, they (BJP) didn't even cross the majority mark. They are nowhere near to that number (272 seats). How will they amend the Constitution without two-third majority? Last time,… pic.twitter.com/LHa12hwOXq
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She said, “We have not got an invitation yet. Even if we do, we will not attend the ceremony.” Banerjee added, “This government is forming undemocratically and unconstitutionally. We cannot give our best wishes to this government. We give our best wishes to the country and the people of the country.”
Banerjee expressed confidence that the “unstable and weak BJP government at the Centre” won’t last long. “The NDA government to be formed will be unstable. BJP has not secured majority; they are dependent on allies. Let’s see how long they can get along with their allies,” she said.
Banerjee remarked that as the mandate was against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “he should have stepped down this time” and allowed someone else to take over. “The country needs change; the country wants change. This mandate was for change. We are waiting and keeping a watch on the situation,” she said.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is boycotting the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi due to their disagreement with the government’s formation process.
How does this decision of Mamata Banerjee impact India’s political landscape?
By refusing to attend the ceremony, Mamata Banerjee is asserting her party’s opposition stance. It sends a clear message that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) does not endorse the current government’s formation process.
Banerjee’s decision reflects her party’s determination to oppose the government’s policies. She mentioned that TMC MPs would actively voice their concerns regarding the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Parliament
Mamata Banerjee says no to ‘Swearing-in-ceremony of PM Modi
Narendra Modi will take the oath as Prime Minister for the third time on Sunday.
The ceremony will also see the swearing-in of his council of ministers. Earlier, Modi met President Droupadi Murmu and staked his claim to form the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government under his leadership.
The Rashtrapati Bhavan announced that the ceremony will take place on Sunday, June 9, at around 7:15 PM. Over 8,000 dignitaries, including foreign leaders, are expected to attend the event.
Highlighting the event’s significance, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated, “The visit of leaders to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his third consecutive term is in keeping with the highest priority accorded by India to its ‘Neighborhood First’ policy and ‘SAGAR’ vision.”
The ceremony will be broadcast live on various news channels and will also be available for streaming on YouTube and other social media platforms.