 "President Droupadi Murmu has dissolved the Lok Sabha (Photo: PTI)")
President Droupadi Murmu has dissolved the 17th Lok Sabha as the country awaits the formation of the new government.
Earlier in the day, the Union Cabinet recommended the dissolution of the Lok Sabha.
Following the Cabinet’s recommendation, Droupadi dissolved the Lok Sabha in exercise of powers under Article 85 of the Constitution of India, according to a statement from Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Following the Cabinet meeting chaired by Caretaker Prime Minister, the meeting of the broader Council of Ministers was held. These were the last meetings of the Cabinet and Council of Ministers of the second Modi ministry.
The meetings were being held at a time when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the rival INDIA bloc are scrambling to form the new government. While the BJP has not reached the majority mark of 272, the NDA with its 292 seats is in a position to form the new government. The NDA is expected to stake claim to form the new government.