Ahead of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony, BJP MP-elect Anurag Thakur conveyed his “best wishes” for Modi’s third successive term in office. Modi is scheduled to take oath at 7:15 pm in a grand ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, followed by the swearing-in of his council of ministers.
Thakur, who previously held the Sports portfolio in the Modi-led government, is expected to miss out on a ministerial position this time. Despite not attending the tea meeting at the PM-elect’s residence, Thakur extended his congratulations to Modi and his team, expressing hopes for their successful tenure.
#WATCH | Delhi: BJP MP-elect Anurag Thakur says, “I extend my best wishes and congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his third term and heartiest wishes to all his ministers and may they do a wonderful job and take the country forward in the next 5 years. As far as… pic.twitter.com/CloLEZuy7t
— ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2024
Anurag Thakur, 49, secured victory from Himachal Pradesh’s Hamirpur parliamentary constituency, defeating Congress candidate Satpal Singh Raizada by a margin of 182,897 votes. This win marks Thakur’s continued representation of the constituency since his initial election in a 2008 by-election, followed by successful campaigns in the Lok Sabha elections of 2009, 2014, and 2019.
Notably, several BJP leaders who served as Union ministers in the previous Modi-led government are also expected to miss out on ministerial berths this time around. This includes prominent figures such as Smriti Irani, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Meenakshi Lekhi, and General (Retired) VK Singh, among others.
