Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in for a third consecutive term in office on Sunday, despite his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) losing its outright majority in India's elections.
Having failed to repeat its previous two landslide victories, the Hindu nationalist party will now need to rely on its partners in the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition to govern. Key members of the NDA have endorsed Modi as their leader, but also demanded significant concessions in exchange for their support.
"They have been kept in good humor for now but the demands and arm-twisting by coalition partners will increase which is bound to derail the BJP's wish list had they managed to win power on their own," said Vikrant Singh, a political research analyst. "The BJP is living on borrowed support."
Both the Telugu Desam Party, a key regional player in the southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh, and the Janata Dal, which rules the northern state of Bihar, are considered kingmakers in Modi's coalition and have been rewarded with ministerial positions in the new cabinet.
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The BJP won 240 seats in the general election, a significant dip from its tally of 303 in 2019. A government requires the support of 272 lawmakers in the 543-member lower house of parliament, and the BJP fell 32 seats short of a majority.
The Janata Dal has asked the BJP to amend its controversial........