New Delhi/IBNS: Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi met veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi on Friday before he went to stake claim to form the government for a third consecutive time.

Modi will be the second politician after Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to become Prime Minister for the third consecutive term.

However, unlike his previous two terms, Modi this time required the support of his allies to form a government as the BJP stopped at 240, 32 short of the majority mark (272).

The TDP (16 seats), JDU (12 seats), Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena (7 seats) and Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas (5 seats) have emerged as the kingmakers.

The NDA has chosen PM Modi as the leader of the alliance, which paved the way for his oath ceremony as Prime Minister for a third term.

About his meeting with Advani, Modi called the senior BJP leader as an inspiration for every party worker of the saffron outfit.

Advani, who was conferred India's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna in February, had been a deputy prime minister. He also served as BJP chief for the longest time since the party was founded in 1980.

He is credited with crafting the BJP's rise through the 1990s when it came to power for the first time as the head of coalition governments under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Advani had labelled himself the "charioteer" who steered the 'rath yatra' that began in Gujarat's Somnath on September 25, 1990, and culminated with the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992, with Advani on the spot.

Speaking about his meeting with Murli Manhoar Joshi, Modi said he has learned a lot under the senior leader's guidance.

Modi will take oath as of the office to return as the Prime Minister for the thrid time on Sunday.