<div>It was bonhomie all around as a sizeable chunk of members of the newly-elected 16th Lok Sabha including Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath today.<br /><br /><div>The country's unity in diversity was in full glare as the House boasting of over 300 first timers - including Modi - saw a festive atmosphere with members donning traditional dress and head gears and many taking oath in their mother tongue.<br /><br /></div><div>Attired in spotless white kurta-pyjama, the Prime Minister was the first to take oath amid thumping of desks. He took oath in Hindi in the name of God and was followed by BJP veteran L K Advani.<br /><br /></div><div>This was followed by several of his Cabinet colleagues and Congress President Sonia Gandhi taking oath.<br /><br /></div><div>With the churning brought out by the elections throwing in contrasts, it was a changed scenario in the House with BJP for the first time coming in with a majority on its own ending the 25-year-long coalition era.<br /><br /></div><div>On the opposition side, Congress was the largest party with just 44 members.</div><div>Several Union ministers took oath in Hindi in the name of God, with Sushma Swaraj, Uma Bharti and Harsh Vardhan taking oath in Sanskrit.<br /><br /></div><div>Sonia Gandhi made the affirmation in Hindi and so did Minister Ram Vilas Paswan of LJP.</div><div>Several ministers preferred to take oath in their mother tongue, including D V Sadananda Gowda, Ananth Kumar and G M Siddheshwara, who took oath in Kannada. Sarbananda Sonowal took oath in Assamese and Jual Oram in Odia.<br /><br /></div><div>A spirit of democracy was visible in the House as members and leaders who took oath were cheered by even their political detractors.<br /><br /></div><div>Many members, including leaders from rival sides, were seen greeting each other after taking oath or making the affirmation.<br /><br /></div><div>With the election of the Speaker scheduled tomorrow, the process of oath taking by the all 543 members has to be completed by then.</div></div>
<div>It was bonhomie all around as a sizeable chunk of members of the newly-elected 16th Lok Sabha including Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath today.<br /><br /><div>The country's unity in diversity was in full glare as the House boasting of over 300 first timers - including Modi - saw a festive atmosphere with members donning traditional dress and head gears and many taking oath in their mother tongue.<br /><br /></div><div>Attired in spotless white kurta-pyjama, the Prime Minister was the first to take oath amid thumping of desks. He took oath in Hindi in the name of God and was followed by BJP veteran L K Advani.<br /><br /></div><div>This was followed by several of his Cabinet colleagues and Congress President Sonia Gandhi taking oath.<br /><br /></div><div>With the churning brought out by the elections throwing in contrasts, it was a changed scenario in the House with BJP for the first time coming in with a majority on its own ending the 25-year-long coalition era.<br /><br /></div><div>On the opposition side, Congress was the largest party with just 44 members.</div><div>Several Union ministers took oath in Hindi in the name of God, with Sushma Swaraj, Uma Bharti and Harsh Vardhan taking oath in Sanskrit.<br /><br /></div><div>Sonia Gandhi made the affirmation in Hindi and so did Minister Ram Vilas Paswan of LJP.</div><div>Several ministers preferred to take oath in their mother tongue, including D V Sadananda Gowda, Ananth Kumar and G M Siddheshwara, who took oath in Kannada. Sarbananda Sonowal took oath in Assamese and Jual Oram in Odia.<br /><br /></div><div>A spirit of democracy was visible in the House as members and leaders who took oath were cheered by even their political detractors.<br /><br /></div><div>Many members, including leaders from rival sides, were seen greeting each other after taking oath or making the affirmation.<br /><br /></div><div>With the election of the Speaker scheduled tomorrow, the process of oath taking by the all 543 members has to be completed by then.</div></div>