Narendra Modi invited to form govt

Indian President Droupadi Murmu has invited Narendra Modi - as leader of the BJP's National Democratic Alliance - to form the next union government.

A statement from Rashtrapati Bhavan said Ms Murmu had ‘satisfied herself on the basis of various letters of support received, that the BJP-led NDA alliance... is in a position to command a majority support of the newly constituted 18th Lok Sabha and form a stable government...”

The communique said it had, therefore, appointed Narendra Modi as Prime Minister of India.

Modi will take oath, as too will members of his new cabinet, at 6 pm Sunday.

Mr Modi will be the first three-term PM since Congress stalwart Jawaharlal Nehru.