PM Modi, NDA Cabinet Resign Ahead Of Oath-Taking Ceremony For Third Term

In a pre-emptive move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and tendered his resignation, along with his council of ministers, on Wednesday. The resignation was accepted, with the President requesting the PM and his council to continue in their roles until the new government takes office.

The development comes after a Cabinet meeting held earlier on Wednesday, where Modi recommended the dissolution of the 17th Lok Sabha. The term of the current Lok Sabha ends on June 16.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Janata Dal-United (JDU), both crucial allies of the BJP, have given their nod for the formation of a new government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The TDP and JDU are expected to submit formal letters of support to the BJP during a meeting later on Wednesday.

The newly elected MPs of the NDA will hold a meeting on June 7 in New Delhi to discuss government formation. The meeting will be chaired by Modi.

The Election Commission has declared results for 542 Lok Sabha constituencies, with the BJP winning 240 seats and the Congress securing 99 seats. The BJP's victory tally is lower than its 2019 and 2014 performances, while the Congress has improved its performance from previous elections.

With the BJP needing to rely on support from other parties, including Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu, Prime Minister Modi has secured a third term. Meanwhile, the opposition INDIA bloc will meet on June 5 to strategize their next move following their favorable outcome in the Lok Sabha elections.