News18 Daybreak | Stage Set for PM Modi's Second Swearing-in Ceremony Today and Other Stories You Need to Watch Out For

Today's Big StoryWith world leaders in attendance, stage set for PM Modi's second oath ceremony today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take oath along with a new Union council of ministers for a second term today after clinching a massive victory in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. 

The ceremony will be attended by top opposition leaders like Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairman Sonia Gandhi. Several world leaders including those from BIMSTEC countries, Sri Lankan President Maithrapala Sirisena and Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli are among the 8000 guests.

 Follow the live updates here.

 Keenly watched: All eyes will be on the allocation of portfolios, including whether former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will get a ministerial berth despite his request that he be kept away from any responsibility due to health reasons.

Following the letter, the PM even met Jaitley at his residence in the national capital. It is, however, not known whether he acceded to BJP leader’s request.

 About turn: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee also struck controversy on Wednesday, when she pulled out from the swearing-in ceremony. Banerjee said that she was upset over the "untrue" claims of political violence in Bengal and the special invites to the families of BJP workers, who were killed during violence around election season.

The BJP, however, hit back at the CM saying that she was merely looking for excuses to not attend today’s ceremony.

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