What’s next on Modi’s agenda? Clues from the swearing in

When Narendra Damodardas Modi rose to take the oath of office for the fourth time at Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, with party colleagues and current and potential allies present in strength, he accomplished many feats at one ago. Apart from the rollcall of political leaders, all on one stage, it was biggest moment of personal triumph for Modi. No other leader in the BJP has been at a swearing-in for as many times in a row.

The list of attendees gave all a peep into the potential shape of a future NDA if Modi were to lead it at some point of time – Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa, INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala, Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, RPI President Ramdas Athavale and, most significantly, the Thackeray cousins Uddhav and Raj. Bihar CM and JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar, as expected, was not there. The message that Modi sent out seemed to be clear: there could be life beyond Nitish Kumar for the NDA.