*NEW DELHI: *India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in on Thursdayin front of cheering supporters ahead of unveiling a drastically revampedHindu nationalist government for his historic second term.
Modi was the first of more than 50 cabinet ministers and deputy ministersto take the oath of office at the presidential palace in front of 8,000people including South Asian leaders, Bollywood stars and leading politicalfigures.
Modi, whose right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party made history by increasingtheir majority in a second straight landslide election win, was to announcenew finance and foreign ministers as well as find a top post for histrusted enforcer, BJP president Amit Shah.
Supporters in the crowd chanted “Modi, Modi” as he walked up to take hisoath of office in Hindi. Shah was also greeted with loud cheers.
Modi was to announce his new cabinet in the hours after the ceremony in thegardens of the presidential palace.
A new finance minister was guaranteed after the influential outgoingminister, Arun Jaitley, 66, announced on Wednesday that he would not serveagain because of poor health.
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Outgoing foreign minister Sushma Swaraj was not among the group to take theoath meaning she would also be replaced.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, whose Congress party suffered a secondstraight humiliating defeat, was among the crowd with his mother Sonia, theformer Congress leader.
Media reports said Gandhi, the son, grandson, and great-grandson ofNehru-Gandhi dynasty prime ministers, has told party leaders he wants tostand down. -APP/AFP
