New Delhi: Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay landed in New Delhi today to participate in Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony. He received a warm welcome at the airport from Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (West) Pavan Kapoor. The visit aims to further strengthen the close bonds of friendship and cooperation between India and Bhutan, stated MEA Official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a post on X.
PM Tobgay is among the distinguished guests invited to the eagerly anticipated ceremony, where BJP leader Modi will be sworn in as Prime Minister for the third consecutive term. With BJP securing 240 seats and the National Democratic Alliance clinching 292 seats out of 543 Lok Sabha seats, PM Modi is poised for a third term, matching Jawaharlal Nehru's record after completing two full terms.
The ceremony will be graced by several leaders and state heads from the neighborhood region and the Indian Ocean region, underscoring India's 'Neighborhood First' policy. Among the invitees are the President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe; President of Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu; Vice-President of Seychelles, Ahmed Afif; Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina; Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth; Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'; and Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay.
Of these guests, Bangladesh PM Hasina, Vice-President of Seychelles Ahmed Afif, Maldivian President Muizzu, and Mauritius PM Pravind Kumar Jugnauth have already arrived.
India and Bhutan share a unique and enduring partnership rooted in mutual trust, understanding, and goodwill. Diplomatic relations were established in 1968, with the opening of a special office of India in Thimphu.
PM Modi's visit to Bhutan in March this year underscored the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two nations and the Government's emphasis on its Neighbourhood First Policy. During the visit, PM Modi met with Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, along with talks with Prime Minister Tobgay.
Following PM Modi's historic third consecutive win in the world's largest elections, Bhutanese PM Tobgay congratulated him and expressed readiness to work closely to further strengthen relations between the two countries.
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