Why India’s PM Narendra Modi resigned

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday. The resignation follows his cabinet’s recommendation to dissolve the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament.

President Murmu, while accepting Modi’s resignation, requested him to continue in office until a new government is formed. According to officials from the President’s House, Modi’s resignation is a procedural step required before establishing the next government.

Early Wednesday, the Election Commission of India published official data on its website, indicating that the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is poised to form the next government.

This comes after Narendra Modi declared an election victory, with his coalition securing more than half of the parliamentary seats, although vote counting is still underway.

The recent elections, which spanned six weeks, saw nearly 1 billion eligible voters participate, underscoring the scale and importance of the democratic process in India. Addressing his supporters at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Narendra Modi expressed gratitude for the public’s mandate.

“The National Democratic Alliance is going to form the government for the third time,” Modi announced. “We are grateful to the people. This is a victory for the world’s largest democracy.”

Modi’s leadership has been instrumental in the NDA’s continued success, and his resignation marks a formal transition phase as India prepares for the next government under his coalition.