Sadda Haq: What is a Hung Parliament?

In the event of a hung parliament, the president has a number of options before him.

What happens when no party in the Lok Sabha reaches the magic figure required to form a government?

(Photo: Arnica Kala/The Quint)

Video Editor: Prashant Chauhan
Camera: Shiv Kumar Maurya

The term ‘hung Parliament’ means a Parliament where no party or a coalition that is already in existence is able to gain a simple majority after elections. This means that no political party wins enough seats to secure an overall majority to form the government.

In India, a majority requires a party to win more than 50 percent of seats in Lok Sabha. The total number of seats in the Lower House is 543, with two nominated members, making it 545. So, the ruling party will need to win 50 percent of 543, which is 272, in order to establish a majority in the House.