Special Invitees, Including Railway Personnel, Sanitation Workers, and Transgenders, to Witness PM Modi's Oath-Taking

Aiswarya S Menon, a seasoned senior assistant loco pilot hailing from the Chennai Division of Southern Railway, will be counted among the esteemed 8,000 special invitees gracing the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his newly formed government on Sunday, as confirmed by officials.

Ms. Menon, currently serving on Vande Bharat trains, boasts an impressive track record, having logged over 2 lakh footplate hours maneuvering various trains including the Vande Bharat Express and Jan Shatabdi. Her commendable work extends to operational roles on the Chennai-Vijayawada and Chennai-Coimbatore Vande Bharat Express services since their inception.

Noteworthy for her agility, alertness, and comprehensive knowledge of railway signaling, Ms. Menon has earned accolades from senior officials within the railway fraternity.

She will be among the distinguished railway personnel honored with an invitation to attend PM Modi's third oath-taking ceremony, slated to take place at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday evening.

Adding to the significance of the occasion, Asia's pioneer woman loco pilot, Surekha Yadav, will also grace the ceremony. Piloting the Vande Bharat train from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus-Solapur, Ms. Yadav is among the ten loco pilots bestowed with the prestigious invitation.

Having made history as India's first female train driver in 1988, Ms. Yadav further etched her name as the inaugural woman loco pilot of the semi-high speed Vande Bharat Express.

Additionally, the guest list for the swearing-in ceremony encompasses sanitation workers, transgender individuals, and laborers who contributed to the Central Vista Project, as per sources disclosed to NDTV.

Preparations are underway to accommodate over 8,000 attendees at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, underscoring the grandeur of the event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's oath-taking ceremony holds national and international significance, as it marks his assumption of office for a third consecutive term. Scheduled for Sunday evening, President Droupadi Murmu will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the Prime Minister and other members of the Union Council of Ministers.

The ceremony has also garnered attention from various South Asian leaders, with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe confirming their attendance. Invitations have also been extended to leaders from Nepal, Bhutan, and Mauritius.

Notably, PM Modi's re-election underscores a historical feat, making him the second Indian Prime Minister to secure a third straight term. However, with a coalition government on the horizon due to BJP's reduced majority in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the party is strategically aligning with allies like Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party and Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal United to form the government.