Prime Minister Narendra Modi has formally resigned along with his Council of Ministers after the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a narrow majority in the Lok Sabha. The outgoing Union cabinet, chaired by PM Modi, recommended the dissolution of the 17th Lok Sabha, marking the initiation of the next government formation process.
PM Modi, following the cabinet meeting, proceeded to Rashtrapati Bhavan to meet President Droupadi Murmu and tender his resignation. A communique from Rashtrapati Bhavan confirmed the resignation acceptance, with President Murmu requesting PM Modi and his Council of Ministers to continue until the new government assumes office.
The term of the current 17th Lok Sabha is set to conclude on June 16. With the NDA securing 293 seats, comfortably above the majority mark of 272 in the 543-member Lok Sabha, the BJP, with 240 seats, albeit falling short of the halfway mark for the first time since 2014, depends on its allies for government formation.
Key NDA allies like Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of the Janata Dal (United), Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde of the Shiv Sena, and N Chandrababu Naidu, head of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), have convened in New Delhi to attend the NDA meeting. Their support is crucial for the BJP, as the TDP won 16 Lok Sabha seats (including its partner, the Jana Sena’s two seats), the JD(U) secured 12 seats, and the Shiv Sena won 7 seats. Together, these 37 seats, combined with the BJP’s 240, secure a comfortable majority beyond the required 272-mark.
The NDA meeting coincides with the Opposition’s INDIA’s bloc gathering, which surprisingly won 233 seats despite being underestimated in exit polls. This indicates a significant Opposition presence despite the NDA’s majority, setting the stage for robust parliamentary debates and discussions in the upcoming sessions.