New Delhi: Capping a landslide election victory, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take oath along with a new council of ministers on Thursday for a second term, with numerous international dignitaries in attendance.
Leaders of all BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) countries have been invited for the ceremony. Besides India, BIMSTEC comprises Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan.
Apart from the BIMSTEC leaders, the government has also invited the Kyrgyz President and the Mauritian Prime Minister. All the invitees have already confirmed their attendance.
In 2014, when Modi won his first term, invitations were extended to SAARC leaders including the then Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif to attend the event. However, Imran Khan has been kept out of the list of invitees this time.
International leaders who have confirmed their presence:
- President of Bangladesh Abdul Hamid
- President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena
- Prime Minister of Nepal K P Sharma Oli
- President of Myanmar U Win Myint
- Prime Minister of Bhutan Lotay Tshering
- Special envoy of Thailand Grisada Boonrach
- President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbay Jeenbekov
- Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth
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