Modi, the prime ministerial candidate for India's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), arrives to attend the BJP parliamentary party meeting at parliament house in New Delhi May 20, 2014. PHOTO: AFP
"Narendra Modi's swearing-in as prime minister will be on the 26th," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh told reporters.
Modi, making his first visit to parliament since his election triumph, choked back tears Tuesday as he urged party colleagues to dedicate themselves to serving the nation.
The 63-year-old leader bowed and kissed the steps of the building as he entered for a meeting of his Hindu nationalist BJP and its political allies, which elected him as leader in the national parliament.
Speaking in the central hall of the complex in New Delhi, Modi had to hold back tears in a rare public display of emotion by the hardliner known to his supporters as the "Lion of Gujarat".
"I said this earlier and I say it again: that 1.25 billion Indians' hopes and aspirations are embedded in this temple of democracy," he said, later recalling his humble origins and the country's independence fighters.
He said "the common man has got renewed self-confidence and faith in democracy" after the victory last Friday by the BJP, which won the first overall majority by a single party since 1984.
"For rural areas, farmers, dalits (low castes), weak and the pained, this government is for them. To meet their aspirations and hopes, this is our responsibility because our weakest, poorest have sent us here," he said.
Modi broke down, having to pause and ask for a glass of water, while referring to his former mentor LK Advani and promising to serve the BJP and India as his "mother."
"Any individual, if he has dedicated his life to the country, it is but natural for him to become emotional," senior BJP figure Smriti Irani told AFP after Modi's speech.
"I have seen his softer side before so I was not surprised," she added.
Modi, chief minister of the western state of Gujarat since 2001, has been locked in talks since Sunday about the composition of his cabinet which is expected to be sworn in next week.
He urged colleagues to show discipline and commit themselves to hard work.
"This joy, celebration will continue but this marks the beginning of the era of responsibility," he said.
Later Tuesday, he was expected to meet President Pranab Mukherjee to inform him of his intention to form an administration and then travel to Gujarat, where he will resign after 13 years in power.
The BJP, elected on promises to revive the economy, is expected to steer India sharply towards the right after a decade in power by the left-leaning Congress party, which has dominated India since independence in 1947.
The Indian Express newspaper reported Tuesday that Modi's office had already written to senior bureaucrats asking them to prepare presentations to explain their work and any problems they had encountered.
The new government is expected to focus initially on trying to remove bottlenecks that have seen many industrial and infrastructure projects stalled for lack of clearances.
The make-up of the new cabinet remains shrouded in secrecy, but reports suggest lawyer and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley is the frontrunner for the finance portfolio, while BJP president Rajnath Singh could get the home ministry.
While Modi prepared for government, the defeated Congress party held a meeting late Monday to rake over its electoral humiliation and leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi offered to resign.
Party colleagues refused to accept the resignations, saying they had faith in the political family that has provided three of India's prime ministers.
Sonia, the 67-year-old Congress president, entrusted election campaigning for the first time to her son and vice president Rahul. But his lacklustre performance failed to impress voters.
Congress slumped to its worst-ever result, winning just 44 seats - about a quarter of its tally at the 2009 election when it secured a second term.
COMMENTS (15)
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Gujarat got over 2002. It has elected Modiji continuously for 13 years. It has delivered all seats in Gujarat on a silver platter to Modiji. It is time Pakis get over the riots of 2002 and work with Modiji to deliver. I know you guys havent got any other handle to beat.
@Jahangir Chauhan: In your dreams. :)
@Jahangir Chauhan: actions speak louder than words. He has ensured riot free Gujarat for 12 years. When he was personally attacked in the Patna rally with bomb blasts 6 months back, he did not use the occasion to incite passions. Rather he said 'Hindus have to decide if they want to fight Muslims or poverty and Muslims have to decide if they want to fight Hindus or poverty.
@bilawal: Modi does not see Indians from the prism of religion and caste. When he was CM he always spoke of 6 crore Gujaratis. Now he speaks of 125 crore Indians.
His motto is justice for all and appeasement of none.
Seems surprised to find minute details of India's happening both political and general on this paper. Maybe Modi has generated much interest in Pakistan which is good as people will become aware in Pakistan also about the democratic functioning without military intervention.
@Jahangir Chauhan:as Modi says if he has any hand in the Gujarat riots,how can an apology condone his acts.he must be punished for that.and if he is innocent which is amply clear by court's verdict,he doesn't need an apology.only his actions would prove his intentions. so wait and watch.
@Jahangir Chauhan: He ruled Gujarat riot free for 12 years. The same Gujarat which used to have riots every 2 years. Actions spesk louder than words. Commitment to safety of all is more important than fake apology. He has said already that he regrets the riots but since even the courts have opined after intense scrutiny that he was not complicit, he owes no apology. In any case it wasn't just Muslims who were killed - Hindus too got killed. While he did nothing to start the riots, he did everything to stop them and has ensured there was no recurrence.
Ofcourse you are right that all Indian citizens are equal before law. Why you imagine that RSS condones violence i do not know. Look at the track record of NDA governments in the states. Unfirtunately there has been fear mongering agsinst Modi in particular and BJP in general. Now many Muslims to recognize that and have voted for BJP's development agenda.
@Jahangir
No one cares about 2002. If you still haven't figured it out after people voted for Modi, then you really are hopeless. Get over it, no one cares and no one is apologizing about anything.
You can however apologize about minority treatment in your country if you want.
It is a good sign for India that the people of india elected a person who was a tea boy for the hieghest forum of government. But at the same time Mr. Modi should made himself impartia in conducting the indian people as well as minorities.
@Jahangir Chauhan: Atleast Modi apologized,even though his fault was not taking enough action..There is enough evidence to prove that the riot was spontaneous after the burning of the train
Did Jinnah apologize for the Direct Action Day which he instigated???
Did Pakistan govt apologize for the death of 3 million Bengalis in 1971???
@Jahangir Chauhan: By your argument all Pak leaders need to say sorry for what they have done/doing to the minorities in your country.If not just leaders all muslims including you should bow down in front of Pakistani hindus,christians,ahmadis..Man who are you to seek apology from India's new PM??Only Indians have the right for that.Worry about the thousands of hindus migrating to India yearly and other less fortunate minorities who curse to be in your country.Spare a thought for them.Indian institutions have the confidence of the minority and majority.Evidence is their ever increasing numbers unlike in Pakistan..This comes from a christian.
@Jahangir Chauhan: "...time to prove yourself on national level." The fact that he has been elected as the PM of India already certifies that he has proved himself on the national level. Do you mean that you elect unproven neophytes to a high office in Pakistan? No wonder Pakistan is not able to stand up tall and straight.
Boycott India.
A nice gesture humble gesture after winning the PM slot for such a big country.People will remember you as a controversial figure time to prove and say apology to what you did back in 2002, thugh your apology will not bring those poor souls back to life whom you and your government were involved in massacring poor people when you were CM of Gujarat state.But people expect and voted for you so won't repeat what you did before even if there will be huge pressur eon your form you mother party that is RSS.Time to deliver time for justice, time to prove yourself on national level.
Some of the most influential leaders in South Asian history have been Gujratis - Jinnah, Gandhi, Sardar Patel, and now Modi. I have so much faith in him!
What a speech..This is a man India was searching for..good luck to Modi ji and good luck to India..we need patience and he will bore fruits within a year...I salute u sir from bottom of my heart......the one who thinks country as motherland and its citizens as its child can only succeed on the path of development.......All the best and all the best to pakistan and pakistanis also