Woodcraft artist Arun Sahu, hailing from Ganjam district, extended his congratulations to Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi as he prepares the Oath Ceremony to assume office for a third consecutive term. Sahu presented a wooden portrait measuring 33 inches in height and 26 inches in width, featuring Modi’s image along with the caption “Modi 3.0.” Speaking to ANI about his creation, Sahu expressed his joy at Modi’s reappointment and revealed that the portrait took him 10 days to complete. He conveyed his heartfelt congratulations to Modi and described the artwork as a gift for the prime minister’s oath ceremony.
PM Modi’s forthcoming term follows the BJP-led NDA’s victory in securing 293 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, surpassing the minimum majority figure of 272 in the 543-strong lower house of the Indian parliament. Notably, Modi becomes the second Indian leader to win a third term after founding Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
The Oath Ceremony, scheduled for this evening, will also witness the oath-taking of members of Modi’s council of ministers. As part of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, several leaders and state heads from the neighborhood region and Indian Ocean region have been invited as distinguished guests. Notable attendees include Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) underscored the event’s significance in line with India’s commitment to its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and ‘SAGAR’ vision. Additionally, the MEA announced that the visiting leaders would attend a banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan later in the evening, further enhancing diplomatic ties and regional cooperation.