The results for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 will be announced today (June 4). The current ruling party had been aiming for the mystical ‘400 paar’ while opposition INDIA bloc is aiming for 295. However, in order to score a majority in the lower house of the parliament, a party or an alliance needs to hit the threshold of 272 of the 543 seats. Failure to achieve this magic number by any party or alliance results in a “Hung Parliament” as no party is able to form the government. Not only this, there has been instances in the past where no party or alliance was able to achieve the majority in the Lok Sabha elections. Here’s what will happen in such a situation:
What is a “Hung Parliament”?
If no party or alliance reaches the magical 272 seat mark, then what results is a situation known as a ‘hung parliament’. In such a situation, it is not possible for a party or alliance to form the government without the support of other parties. The President then typically provides the largest party or the party with the highest votes ten days to prove majority in the lower house of the parliament, in this case the Lok Sabha. If the party is not able to prove majority, then the lower house goes “hung parliament”.
In case of a hung parliament, this can happen:
Coalition government: The political parties can negotiate with each other in order to form a coalition government and reach majority. If a coalition is formed, then the government is led by the leader of the larger party.
Minority government: The single largest party can form a minority government, in which case it will require the support of a sufficient number of members from the lower house of parliament in order to pass bills and get vote of confidence. However, a minority government is less than stable as the members of lower house can get enough votes to reject a legislature of even pass a vote of no confidence.
Fresh elections: The President of India has the power to call for fresh elections and dissolve the Lok Sabha if no consensus has been reached to form a coalition or minority government. Within a frame of time.
Times when India saw a ‘Hung Parliament’:
There are 3 instances when no party could get the majority in India. In the 1967 elections, no party or alliance could get a majority in the Lok Sabha, so a coalition was formed under the leadership of Indira Gandhi. A similar situation arose in 1989 and a coalition was formed under the leadership of VP Singh. After this, another situation manifested in 1996 where no party or alliance could secure a simple majority and coalition government was formed under HD Deve Gowda and later, IK Gujral.