Narendra Modi receives a giant floral garland from supporters in Ahmadabad on May 16. (AP Photo)
's BJP logged a king-size victory in the Lok Sabha polls, becoming the first party in 30 years to get through the half-way mark on its own. Armed with such a decisive mandate, the BJP leader has expressed his desire to take oath in front of a large gathering.
Mr Modi, sources said, will therefore be sworn in at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The list of invitees includes the names of some 3000 people. The forecourt is large enough to accommodate so many people. (
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Mr Modi will become the third prime minister in the country's history to be sworn in as the prime minister in the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. In the past, Chandrashekhar, who led a 40-day government after the fall of the V P Singh government in 1990, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee were administered the oath of office and secrecy in the forecourt.
Manmohan Singh, who demitted office today after a 10-year stint as prime minister, was sworn in both in 2004 and 2009 at the Durbar Hall, which can seat 450 people only.