PM Modi to meet President Kovind in evening to stake claim to form new govt

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to meet President Ram Nath Kovind Saturday evening to stake a claim to form the new government, sources said.

The prime minister is likely to call on the President at around 8 pm and before that, leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would meet Kovind at around 7 pm, the sources said.

He is also likely to interact with media or will make a statement after meeting the President

The NDA returned to power with a massive majority in the Lok Sabha elections with the BJP alone bagging 303 of total 542 seats contested. Elections were held in 542 of the 543 seats. The election in Vellore Lok Sabha seat was cancelled by the EC citing abuse of money power.

Sources said on Friday that Modi likely to take oath of office on May 30. India has started to send out invites to neighbouring & ASEAN countries for Narendra Modi's oath-taking ceremony. This is in line with Modi govt's "neighbourhood first" policy and "act east" policy and growing focus on BIMSTEC grouping.

Apart from neighbouring & ASEAN countries, leaders of the P-5 countries which include — US, Russia, UK, France and China — and Japan, Germany, Israel, Saudi Arabia and UAE may also be invited for Modi's swearing-in.   

At his oath-taking ceremony in 2014, Modi had invited all heads of state of SAARC countries.

Asked whether foreign dignitaries would be invited to the swearing-in ceremony, the sources said, "As of now there is no such information. We will share the details once a decision is taken." Modi had invited the Heads of the SAARC nations to his swearing-in ceremony as Prime Minister in 2014.

Meanwhile, the full Election Commission on Saturday called on President Kovind and handed over the list of 542 newly-elected members of the Lok Sabha that will enable him to initiate the formal process of new government formation. 

The President dissolved the 16th Lok Sabha with immediate effect on the recommendation of the Union cabinet. A communique issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said the President dissolved the Lok Sabha after a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Modi made such a recommendation Friday.

The president had on Friday accepted the resignation of Modi and his council of ministers but asked them to continue as caretaker until formation of a new government.

(With PTI inputs)