In a grand ceremony at the presidential palace in New Delhi, Narendra Modi was sworn in for his third consecutive five-year term as prime minister of India on Sunday. The event marked a significant accomplishment for the 73-year-old leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), making him only the second prime minister in the country's history to achieve this feat.

Modi's swearing-in ceremony also hinted at his emphasis on continuity, as he appeared onstage alongside key allies from the BJP who had held crucial security and economic portfolios in his previous term. However, the details of the ministerial appointments were not immediately available, with expectations that they will be revealed in the coming days.

The recent election results had forced Modi to form a coalition government, causing speculation about the reshuffling of positions within his new government. Analysts are keen to see if Modi will relinquish key ministries to satisfy his coalition partners and whether his power will be curtailed heading into the new term. Nevertheless, Modi's warm interaction with his deputies during the ceremony indicated that there might not be significant changes in personnel, although his governing style may be fine-tuned.

Despite securing an outright majority in Parliament in the previous two terms, Modi's BJP fell short of the required seats in the lower house during the recent elections. As a result, Modi had to rely on his National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition partners, such as Chandrababu Naidu of the Telugu Desam Party and Nitish Kumar of the Janata Dal (United) party, to form the government.

The power-sharing negotiations, which took place behind closed doors, necessitated a more restrained tone from Modi in his public speeches. He referred to his government as the NDA government instead of constantly emphasizing his own name. This change in rhetoric reflects a conscious effort to project a broader representation of India's diverse population beyond the Hindi-speaking Hindus in north and central India.

Following the swearing-in ceremony, Amit Shah, Modi's trusted confidant who previously served as home minister, expressed that the NDA government would embody "all-inclusive nationalism." The event was attended by leaders from neighboring South Asian countries, prominent business figures, and Bollywood celebrities.

The focus now shifts to key questions surrounding the allocation of power and positions within Modi's government. Observers are particularly interested in whether Modi's allies, including Amit Shah, will retain significant positions of influence. Additionally, attention is on whether smaller political parties within the NDA coalition will vie for the role of Parliamentary speaker, potentially impacting the balance of power and the relationship with the opposition.

As the new term begins, Narendra Modi faces the challenge of maintaining a delicate balance between his own authority and the demands of his coalition partners. The coming days will shed light on the composition of his ministerial council, providing insights into the direction his government will take as it strives to serve India's diverse populace.