Highlights- ‘President has invited me to form the govt’: PM Modi

Exercising powers vested in him under Article 75 (1) of the Constitution of India, President Ram Nath Kovind, today appointed Narendra Modi to the office of Prime Minister of India, reports by ANI. 

Rashtrapati Bhavan: Exercising powers vested in him under Article 75 (1) of the Constitution of India, President Ram Nath Kovind, today appointed Narendra Modi to the office of Prime Minister of India pic.twitter.com/63lfkNtzsD

— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2019

9:12 pm IST

‘President has invited me to form the govt’: PM Modi

PM Narendra Modi speaks after staking claim to form government.

“President today gave me a letter designating me as the Prime Minister...The country has given me a huge mandate and the mandate comes with the expectations of the people,” says PM Narendra Modi.

9:00 pm IST

Narendra Modi meets President Kovind after being elected leader of NDA, stakes claim to form government

The delegation handed over to the President a letter stating that Narendra Modi had been elected leader of the BJP Parliamentary Party. Letters of support from NDA constituent parties were also handed over to the President. 

The delegation handed over to the President a letter stating that Narendra Modi had been elected leader of the BJP Parliamentary Party. Letters of support from NDA constituent parties were also handed over to the President https://t.co/eZzb8fuq9t

— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2019

7:35 pm IST

‘We are not here to do few things, we are here to do a lot of things’: says PM Narendra Modi

We have worked for Sabka Saath (Everyone’s support), Sabka Vikas (Everyone’s growth), now we have to strive for Sabka Vishwas (Everyone’s faith),

Every government does something or the other. We are not here to do few things, we are here to do a lot of things”: says PM Narendra Modi

7:30 pm IST

‘Minorities have been kept in fear, used in elections’: PM Modi

“Minorities have been kept in fear, used in elections. We have to end this cycle.

In 2014, I said that my Government is dedicated to the Dalits, the poor, the victims, the underprivileged, the tribals of the country. Today, again, I want to say that in 5 years we did not let ourselves lose sight of that

“We must not leave anyone behind, there should be no discrimination.”: says PM Narendra Modi

7:25 pm IST

‘The party worker in us should always be alive’: PM Narendra Modi

“Even though I am the Prime Minister of India, I do not want to be treated differently. I don’t want to be treated differently at the airport, I want to stand in the line for security check,

The party worker in us should always be alive” PM Narendra Modi

7:19 pm IST

‘What we are is not because of Modi, it is because of the people’: says PM Modi

“Never believe anybody who says you are going to be a minister, it will all be according to norms.

What we are is not because of Modi, it is because of the people”: says PM Narendra Modi

7:08 pm IST

‘We are NA RA National Ambition, Regional Aspirations’: PM Modi

“We are NA RA National Ambition,Regional Aspirations.

NDA has two essential things; one is energy and second is synergy. NDA’s second name is energy.

This energy and synergy is a chemical, To which we have been empowered and capable.”: PM Modi

7:05 pm IST

‘First time in Independent India, large number of women MPs are sitting in the Parliament’: PM Modi

This is for the first time in Independent India that such large number of women MPs are sitting in the Parliament. This has been made possible due to women power. 

PM Narendra Modi addressing NDA parliamentary meeting: This is for the first time in Independent India that such large number of women MPs are sitting in the Parliament. This has been made possible due to women power. pic.twitter.com/2CinVlEnKc

— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2019

7:00 pm IST

‘We are for those who trusted us and also for those whose trust we have to win over,’ says Modi to NDA MPs

‘We are for those who trusted us and also for those whose trust we have to win over,’ says Modi to NDA MPs.

I would urge the people’s representatives that we can no longer be a stranger with human sensitivities.

Its strength is huge. We will try to win Hearts,’ says PM Modi. 

PM Narendra Modi addressing NDA Parliamentary meeting: I'm talking to you after bowing before the constitution, there can not be a 'bhed-rekha' for a people's representative. We are for those who were with us, we are also for those who will be with us. pic.twitter.com/Sd3TUXrk3q

— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2019

6:55 pm IST

‘From 2014 to 2019, the country has run with us, sometimes two steps ahead of us’: PM Modi

‘In the Democratic life of India, the people of the country have started a new era in the electoral tradition. We are all his witnesses.

From 2014 to 2019, the country has run with us, sometimes two steps ahead of us.

When the door of faith is strengthened, the pro-informatics wave arises, the wave is bound by a door of trust,’ PM Modi

6:50 pm IST

‘2019 election has become a movement of social unity’: PM Modi

‘Today, all the senior colleagues of the NDA have blessed me. You have all chosen me as the leader. I consider this to be a part of the system. I am also one of you. I am equal to you. We have to walk shoulder by side.

It is generally said that the election divides, creates distances, makes the wall. But the 2019 election has worked to break the walls. This election has added hearts. This election has become a movement of social unity’: PM Modi

6:45 pm IST

‘The pro-incumbency wave is tied with the thread of trust’: PM Modi

‘These elections were pro-incumbency. This pro-incumbency wave is tied with the thread of trust...The trust was not only between people and govt but also among people themselves. This gave birth to that trust,’ PM Narendra Modi, reports from ANI.

6:40 pm IST

‘The election was a celebration in itself, the polling was also full of colours’: PM Modi

‘In India, the election was a celebration in itself, the polling was also full of colours.

But the Triumph was even more spectacular than that.

India lovers from around the world have participated in the festival of election. This is a matter of pride for us,’ PM Modi

6:35 pm IST

‘Pursue new India with a new energy,’ PM Modi

‘This incident of Central Hall today is an unusual occurrence. We are going to pursue a new journey here today. Pursue new India with a new energy.

All of the changes that have been made by the politics of the country have led to it. You are thankful to all the felicitation. But the members who have come by choosing for the first time are thankful to the special felicitation’: PM Modi

6:30 am IST

‘We are beginning new journey’: PM Modi addresses NDA meeting

“I convey my heartfelt gratitude to you all. The BJP chose me unanimously as the leader of the parliamentary party and all the NDA parties supported it and I am thankful for it,” PM Modi

6:27 pm IST

PM Narendra Modi addresses the NDA Parliamentary board meeting

PM Narendra Modi addresses the NDA Parliamentary board meeting at Central Hall of Parliament.

6:25 pm IST

‘Modi works for 18 hours a day, hasn’t take single off’: Amit Shah

“22 crore people whose living standards have improved have blessed PM Modi, says Amit Shah

Everyone believed that Modi government would return with a clear majority. The nation has blessed us from all corners of the country.

Surgical strikes showed us that there is a leader who can hit the terrorists back, says Amit Shah

Modi works for 18 hours a day, hasn’t take single off: Amit Shah” : BJP chief Amit Shah

6:15 pm IST

Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi greets Narendra Modi

Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi greets Narendra Modi, after he was elected as the leader of BJP & NDA at the NDA meeting, reports from ANI. 

Delhi: Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi greets Narendra Modi, after he was elected as the leader of BJP & NDA at the NDA meeting. pic.twitter.com/B9e1Z4vO5C

— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2019

6:10 pm IST

Narendra Modi seeks blessings from senior BJP leader LK Advani

Narendra Modi seeks blessings from senior BJP leader LK Advani, at the NDA meeting. He has been elected as the leader of BJP & NDA, reports from ANI.

Delhi: Narendra Modi seeks blessings from senior BJP leader LK Advani, at the NDA meeting. He has been elected as the leader of BJP & NDA. pic.twitter.com/WfKKWEDc3j

— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2019

6:05 pm IST

‘I thank all the allies and the MPs who have unanimously chosen NDA’s leader Narendra Modi’: Amit Shah

“I thank all the allies and the MPs who have unanimously chosen NDA’s leader Narendra Modi as the new Prime Minister of the country,” BJP President Amit Shah.

6:00 pm IST

Narendra Modi elected leader of NDA, to meet President at 8 pm

Prime Minister Narendra Modi elected leader of National Democratic Alliance. He will meet President at 8 pm

5:55 pm IST

SAD Chief Parkash Singh Badal proposes Narendra Modi’s name as the leader of NDA Party

SAD Chief Parkash Singh Badal proposes Narendra Modi’s name as the leader of NDA Parliamentary Party. JDU Chief Nitish Kumar and Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray endorse the proposal.

Senior BJP leaders LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi are also present at the NDA parliamentary meeting : Reports from ANI 

SAD's Parkash Singh Badal proposes Narendra Modi's name as the leader of NDA Parliamentary Party. JDU Chief Nitish Kumar and Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray endorse the proposal. pic.twitter.com/2eGPHh21qD

— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2019

5:45 pm IST

PM Modi elected leader of BJP in Lok Sabha, announces Amit Shah

PM Modi elected leader of BJP in Lok Sabha, announces Amit Shah.

5:20 pm IST

PM Modi reaches NDA meet, sits with veterans LK Advani, MM Joshi on dais

PM Modi reaches NDA meet, sits with veterans LK Advani, MM Joshi on dais

Delhi: PM Narendra Modi arrives at the NDA Parliamentary board meeting. pic.twitter.com/AW4EMgfx7d

— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2019

5:35 pm IST

‘Bullets were fired, violence was taking place in these elections,’ CM Mamata Banerjee

“Bullets were fired, violence was taking place in these elections...They (BJP) are even controlling the armed forces. How is it that they got all the seats in Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujrat. I don’t believe this and I am ready to die.” CM Mamata Banerjee.

5:25 pm IST

‘I told the party that I don’t want to ctontinue as CM’: Mamata Banerjee

“Votes were given on the basis of how money was distributed, votes were given by dividing hindu and muslims. I told the party I don’t want to continue as CM,” CM Mamata Banerjee

5:20 pm IST

I’m not like Congress. I’ll not surrender. Country belongs to everyone’: Mamata

“I am not like the Congress. I will not surrender. The country belongs to everyone. I am a Hindu but I do not believe Muslims can be sidelined.” : TMC CM Mamata Banerjee

05: 00 pm IST

NDA meet set to begin shortly

NDA to formally choose PM Modi as their leader, meet to begin shortly

4:40 pm IST

‘If anyone can provide leadership to the Congress Party in such circumstances, it Rahul Gandhi’: GN Azad

“If anyone can provide leadership to the Congress Party in such circumstances, it Rahul Gandhi. With him the party can play a strong opposition at the national level,” Congress spokesperson Ghulam Nabi Azad.

GN Azad: In CWC meeting everyone unanimously told him(Rahul Gandhi)he did a good job...No one has a doubt on his leadership but situation was like that. If someone can lead the party in such situation. it's only Rahul Gandhi, if anyone can lead opposition, it's only Rahul Gandhi. https://t.co/3pJr0gcDGX

— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2019

4:30 pm IST

‘The CWC noted the challenges faced by the country, which are to be resolved by the new government,’ Congress spokesperson, Randeep Surjewala

“The Congress party has lost the election, but our indomitable courage, our spirit of struggle and our commitment to our principles are stronger than ever. The Congress Working Committee took cognizance of the challenges faced by the country at present, which are to be resolved by the new government.

Party President Rahul Gandhi offered his resignation but it was rejected by the members of CWC unanimously,” Congress spokesperson, Randeep Surjewala.

4:25 pm IST

‘The CWC acknowledges the challenges, failures and shortcomings which led to the mandate,’ Congress spokesperson, Randeep Surjewala

“The Congress Working Committee acknowledges the challenges, failures and shortcomings which led to the mandate. The Congress Working Committee authorises the Congress President with complete introspection at all levels to radically alter and restructure the organizational structure of the party,” says Congress spokesperson, Randeep Surjewala.

4:17 pm IST

Could not rise up to expectations: AK Antony

“I don’t agree that it was a disastrous performance, but we were not able to rise up to the expectations. Party will discuss this in details,” said Congress’ AK Antony.

4:12 pm IST

CWC unanimously rejected Rahul Gandhi’s resignation: Congress

“Congress spokesperson told the media that party chief Rahul Gandhi had offered his resignation, but the CWC unanimously called on the Congress president to lead the party,” said AK Antony.

4:10 pm IST

We accept result of 2019 Lok Sabha elections: Congress

“We humbly accept the result of 2019 Lok Sabha elections. We thank all those who supported and voted for us.

I thank all party leaders for working hard throughiut the difficult election scenario,” said Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala.

3:45 pm IST

Congress addresses media

Ghulam Nabi Azad, Shri AK Antony, Shri KC Venugopal, Shri Randeep Singh Surjewala, Shri RPN Singh and Shri Gaurav Gogoi are addressing the media at AICC Headquarters.

3:38 pm IST

CWC passes a resolution, authorising Rahul Gandhi to restructure party

CWC had passed a resolution, authorising Rahul Gandhi to restructure the party.

2:27 pm IST

EC submits list of newly-elected MPs to President

The full Election Commission on Saturday called on President Ram Nath Kovind and handed over the list of 542 newly-elected members of the Lok Sabha that will enable him to initiate the formal process of new government formation.

Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and the other two Commissioners, Ashok Lavasa and Sushil Chandra, met the President at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and gave him a copy of the notification issued by the poll body in terms of provisions of the Representation of the People Act containing the names of MPs elected in the just-concluded polls.

While the notification sets in motion the constitution of the 17th Lok Sabha, the list given to the President enables him to initiate government formation process.

On Saturday evening, newly-elected MPs of the National Democratic Alliance are likely elect Narendra Modi as its leader.

2:00 pm IST

Congress worker loses bet to BJP worker, shaves head

A Congress worker, BL Sen shaved his head after losing a bet to a BJP worker in Rajgarh. He says, “We had a bet that if Modi becomes PM, I’ll shave my head & if Rahul Gandhi becomes PM, he (BJP worker) will shave his head. Now that my party has lost, I shaved my head,” reported news agency ANI.

1:52 am IST

Akhilesh Yadav asks party men to prepare for 2022 Assembly polls

Unfazed by the results of the Lok Sabha elections, Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday asked party workers to start preparing for the 2022 Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.

The former Chief Minister asked party workers not to waste time but to launch a door-to-door campaign and create awareness about the anti-people policies of the BJP at the Centre and in the state.

“We will continue our efforts to bring in ‘mahaparivartan’ (major change),” he said.

1:40 pm IST

‘The day you lose your conscience…’: Gautam Gambhir pans Kejriwal

“I want to tell the chief minister that elections will come and go but the day you lose your conscience and honesty, you lose everything.

To win one seat, if you can come up with such disgusting allegations, I don’t have enough words to talk about them,” said BJP’s Gautam Gambhir.

Gautam Gambhir: Main CM sahab ko bolna chahunga ki chunaav aenge-jaenge. Jis din aap apna zameer aur imaan haar jaenge us din sab haar jaenge. Ek seat jeetne ke liye agar aap aisa ghinona arop laga sakte hain to mere pas zyada shabd nahi hain un ke baare main baat karne ke liye pic.twitter.com/W1POxEKHOi

— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2019

1:20 pm IST

Tamil Nadu CM, Uttrakhand CM in Delhi for NDA meet

Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi Palaniswami, deputy CM O Panneerselvam and Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat have arrived in Delhi for NDA meeting, to be held today.

12:20 pm IST

Punjab CM thanks people for party victory

Two days after the Lok Sabha elections results, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday expressed his gratitude to the people of the state for reposing faith in the Congress party.

“I express my gratitude to all workers for their support & hardwork which led to such a good showing in the Lok Sabha polls. Thank you, Punjab for placing your trust in us! I reiterate my commitment to making Punjab #1 again!” he tweeted.

12:07 pm IST

Congress meet underway

A meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) is underway at the party headquarters in New Delhi to discuss the humiliating defeat they faced in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

Several senior leaders including UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, party president Rahul Gandhi, former PM Manmohan Singh, Motilal Vora, former union ministers RPN Singh, PL Punia and P Chidambaram, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Opposition leader in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, are present at the meeting.

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah are also attending the meeting.

Though there was no official word on the agenda for the meeting, sources said the committee is likely to discuss future strategies.

11:18 am IST

Rahul Gandhi, Congress leaders hold CWC meet to review poll setback

Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrived at the party office in Delhi for Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting.

11:08 am IST

Former PM Manmohan Singh arrives

Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh arrive for the Congress Working Committee meeting.

At the CWC meeting, the party is expected to take a hard look at its performance, analyse the reasons for its humiliating defeat and find a way to move forward.

11:02 am IST

Sonia Gandhi arrives for CWC meet

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi arrived for Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting which is set to take stock of crushing defeat in Lok Sabha polls.

Senior Congress leaders P Chidambaram and Siddaramaiah have also arrived for the meeting.

10:53 am IST

Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge arrive for CWC meet

Senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge and Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh arrived for Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting.

10:47 am IST

Congress leaders arrive for CWC meet

Congress leaders RPN Singh, PL Punia and Motilal Vora have arrived for Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting. The panel will review the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections 2019.

10:40 am IST

PM Modi to visit his mother in Gujarat tomorrow

PM Narendra Modi will go to Gujarat tomorrow evening, to seek blessings of his mother, he tweeted this morning.

Day after tomorrow morning, he scheduled to visit Kashi “to thank the people of this great land for reposing their faith in me,” he says.

10:35 am IST

‘Mischievous and incorrect’: Cong on speculation of Rahul Gandhi offering to resign

The Congress has firmly rejected speculation that its president Rahul Gandhi has offered to resign. The party said these reports “are mischievous and incorrect”.

A Congress leader said that even if Gandhi makes an offer to quit as some expect it is likely to be rejected because he had taken all views on board when the party finalized its strategy and decided candidates.

10:30 am IST

CWC to meet today to review poll setback

The Congress Working Committee, the party’s highest decision making body, will meet on Saturday to review the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections where it won only 52 seats, marginally improving on its worst performance in the 2014 elections when it won 44 seats.