With the announcement of the 2024 Lok Sabha election results, the attempt to form the government has begun. The NDA led by Narendra Modi is trying to form the government. The NDA has to prove the support of the majority of MPs to form the government. In the current scenario, the BJP won 240 seats and the NDA secured 292 seats. The major opposition party Congress secured 99 seats, and the India Block won 233 seats overall.
What is the magic number?
In India, elections are held for the Assembly and Parliament, in which people elect their representatives for the state and central government respectively. Parliamentary elections involve voting in 543 constituencies across the country, with MPs being elected for every Lok Sabha constituency. To form a government, a party or coalition must win 272 Lok Sabha seats or a majority of at least 50%. This guarantees that they will have enough support to make laws and run the government efficiently. A party can form a government on its own if it wins more than half of the seats in the Lok Sabha. When no party or coalition reaches an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha, a hung parliament occurs. In such a case, the party trying to form a government must seek support from other political parties.
What will happen after the elections?
The Election Commission submits the list of newly elected MPs to President Draupadi Murmu who, as per protocol, will call on the largest party to form the government. The winning party or coalition (different parties coming together when there is a lack of majority for any one party) will nominate one of its members for the post of Prime Minister. In turn, the PM will select ministers to handle different responsibilities in the cabinet. After the election, each winning candidate is handed a certificate of election by the returning officer of the constituency. The candidate will be asked to sign an acknowledgement of receipt of the certificate, which is sent to the Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha by registered post, as per Election Commission guidelines.
Why did the old government have to resign?
After proving a majority in the House, the government will proceed with the swearing-in ceremony with the newly elected MPs. The BJP has secured 240 seats, well short of the 272-majority figure, but NDA allies TDP and JD(U) have secured 292 seats. As the leader of the NDA, Narendra Modi will be invited by the President to form the next government. Narendra Modi is expected to take oath as PM on June 8. In doing so, he will become the country’s first (and only) three-term leader after Congress’ Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The swearing-in ceremony of the Union Cabinet is also likely to take place on the same day.
Before staking claim to form a government, the old one has to resign. So PM Narendra Modi and his ministers have tendered their resignations. The President accepted the resignations and requested the PM and the Union Council of Ministers to continue in office until a new government is formed. The Cabinet’s recommendation to dissolve the current Lok Sabha has cleared the way for the 18th Lok Sabha. The term of the current 17th Lok Sabha ends on June 16. Modi has been elected the leader of the NDA.
