Modi oath taking: Rashtrapati Bhavan gears up for its biggest event ever

New Delhi: The swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi as the 15th Prime Minister of India will be the biggest event so far to have been staged at Rashtrapati Bhavan with the guest list, which includes key leaders from SAARC countries, set to cross the 4,000 mark.

This is the first time that such a large gathering will be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where the biggest ceremonies so far have seen a maximum of up to 1,500 to 2,000 guests, for instance, during the 'At Home' functions on the occasions of Republic and Independence days.

The swearing-in functions of Chandrashekhar in 1990 and Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1998 were held at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan and saw an attendance of 1,200 to 1,300 guests, said Omita Paul, Secretary to President Pranab Mukherjee.

"With the gathering (for Modi's swearing-in) expected to be around 4,000 people, it was a huge logistical challenge for us and we enjoyed it," Paul said while interacting with mediapersons on the preparations for Monday's function, when Modi will be sworn-in at 6 PM.

There is no immediate information about any members of the Prime Minister-designate's family attending the function, she said.

Even as Paul was talking to the media, final preparations were underway to prepare the stage where the President will administer the oath to Modi and his council of ministers.

"We have not been told anything about who will be sworn-in along with the Prime Minister," was Paul's prompt reply when asked about the size of the Cabinet.

The secretary said that the President had given his nod for the swearing-in to be held at the forecourt as he has always favoured the participation of more and more people.

"It has been an endeavour of the President to make Rashtrapati Bhavan people friendly," she said.

With the weather forecast hinting at the likelihood of thundershowers on Monday, Paul said she is hoping that no rain occurs during the function as the venue would then have to shift inside to the 'Durbar Hall', which has seating for 500 people while 400 others can fit in standing.