President Droupadi Murmu has dissolved the 17th Lok Sabha following the advice of the Cabinet, marking the end of its term. This decision was formalized through an order signed on June 5, 2024, utilizing the powers granted under Sub-clause (b) of Clause (2) of Article 85 of the Constitution.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with President Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday and tendered his resignation along with his Council of Ministers. The President accepted the resignation and requested that PM Modi and his ministers continue in their roles until the new government assumes office.
The Cabinet, in a meeting chaired by PM Modi in New Delhi, recommended the dissolution of the Lok Sabha, whose term was set to end on June 16. The President’s acceptance of this recommendation paves the way for the formation of a new government following the recent Lok Sabha elections.
In the elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 240 seats out of the 542 declared constituencies, falling short of its previous tallies of 303 seats in 2019 and 282 seats in 2014. The Congress, on the other hand, improved its count to 99 seats, up from 52 in 2019 and 44 in 2014. The opposition INDIA bloc, a coalition of several parties, managed to secure over 230 seats, presenting significant competition.
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is poised to form the next government, with key support expected from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Janata Dal-United (JDU). The newly elected NDA MPs will convene on June 7 in the national capital to discuss government formation strategies.
Meanwhile, the opposition INDIA bloc will meet on June 5, with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge hosting alliance leaders to strategize their next steps following their favorable performance in the elections.
As the political landscape shifts, the nation awaits the swearing-in ceremony of the new government and the subsequent steps both coalitions will take to address the country’s pressing issues.