With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress locked in a bitter fight in the 2019 general election and K Chandrasekhar Rao’s federal front plan not materialising yet, all eyes are on the exit polls.
As the last phase of voting ends on Sunday, exit polls are expected to be released in the evening. On the day of the election results, if no party gets a clear majority, a hung parliament could be announced.
What exactly is a hung Parliament?
If no party or pre-poll alliance secures a majority to form the government, it may result in a hung Parliament. The Lok Sabha has 545 seats — 543 elected members and two nominated by the president.
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To win a majority in the lower house, a party or pre-poll alliance needs to reach the half-way mark of 272.
What happens in case of hung Parliament?
The president plays a crucial role in government formation in the case of a hung Parliament. The president may invite the leader of the single largest party or pre-poll alliance to form the government.
According to The Times of India, an invitation to the single largest party may be ruled out when it is clear that it will get no support from other parties. The president then has to invite the party/person who can cobble up the numbers.
Business Standard reports Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu has suggested Opposition leaders meet President Ram Nath Kovind and urge him to consider 22 parties as a single bloc and invite, not the single largest party, but the single largest group to form the government in the case of a hung Lok Sabha.