On the eve of prime minister-designate Narendra Modi taking oath of office, enthusiastic supporters of Modi were seen sculpting his sand image in Varanasi.
Narendra Modi had won from Varanasi by defeating Arvind Kejriwal by a massive margin of 3.37 lakh votes in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
Leaders from SAARC countries including Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Nepal PM Sushil Koirala, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Bangladesh Parliament Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam will be attending the grand ceremony.
President Pranab Mukherjee will be administering the oath of office and secrecy to Modi and his council of ministers.
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