In a significant move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan today, following the recommendation of the Union cabinet to dissolve the 17th Lok Sabha. This development marks the beginning of the process for the formation of the next government, following the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) narrow victory in the Lok Sabha elections.
The outgoing Union cabinet, chaired by PM Modi, convened for its final meeting where it recommended the dissolution of the 17th Lok Sabha. The meeting, held at the prime minister’s residence around 11:30 am, paved the way for the transition to the new government.
With the term of the current Lok Sabha ending on June 16, the recommendation for dissolution comes at a critical juncture. The NDA, with 293 seats, comfortably surpasses the majority mark of 272 in the 543-member Lok Sabha. However, the BJP, with 240 seats, fell short of the halfway mark for the first time since 2014, necessitating the support of its allies for government formation.
Key allies such as Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) head N Chandrababu Naidu have already arrived in New Delhi for the NDA meeting scheduled later today. These allies hold a crucial role in bolstering the BJP’s numbers, with the TDP winning 16 Lok Sabha seats (including its partner the Jana Sena’s two seats), the JD(U) securing 12 seats, and the Shiv Sena claiming 7 seats. Together, these seats, when added to the BJP’s tally, ensure a comfortable majority for the alliance.
The NDA’s meeting coincides with that of the Opposition’s INDIA’s bloc, which managed to secure 233 seats despite initial predictions. This convergence sets the stage for intense discussions and negotiations as the country prepares for the next phase of governance.
As per a communique from Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Droupadi Murmu has accepted PM Modi’s resignation and requested him and the Council of Ministers to continue until the new government assumes office, signaling a smooth transition of power in the coming days.
Sources By Agencies