Which of the following statements is true about the 1998 Lok Sabha elections?

A) No political party or coalition secured a majority in the elections held in March 1998
B) The BJP and its allies secured 251 seats
C) The BJP and its allies' total seats were 51 short of a majority
D) President Narayanan asked the leader of the alliance, Atal Behari Vajpayee, “to furnish documents in support of his claim from concerned political parties.” 
E) President also advised Vajpayee to secure a vote of confidence within ten days of being sworn in

Choose the correct answer from the given options:

A, B, D and  E

The correct answer is Option 3 - A, B, D and  E

The correct statements are:

A) No political party or coalition secured a majority in the elections held in March 1998. 
B) The BJP and its allies secured 251 seats
D) President Narayanan asked the leader of the alliance, Atal Behari Vajpayee, “to furnish documents in support of his claim from concerned political parties.” 
E) President also advised Vajpayee to secure a vote of confidence within ten days of being sworn in.

Statement C) The BJP and its allies' total seats were 51 short of a majority is INCORRECT AS the BJP and its allies secured 251 seats, 21 short of a majority not 51.

President’s role in choosing the Prime Minister After 1977, party politics in India became more competitive and there have been many instances when no party had clear majority in the Lok Sabha. What does the President do in such situations? No political party or coalition secured majority in the elections held in March 1998. The BJP and its allies secured 251 seats, 21 short of a majority. President Narayanan adopted an elaborate procedure. He asked the leader of the alliance, Atal Behari Vajpayee, “to furnish documents in support of his claim from concerned political parties.” Not stopping at this the President also advised Vajpayee to secure a vote of confidence within ten days of being sworn in.