The Lok Sabha, translated as the “House of the People” in English, is the lower house of India’s Parliament. It is one of the two houses of the Parliament, the other being the Rajya Sabha, or the “Council of States.”
Members of the Lok Sabha, known as Members of Parliament (MPs), are directly elected by the citizens of India through general elections. The total number of members in the Lok Sabha is not fixed but can vary due to changes in population and administrative divisions. As of 2024, the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha is set at 552 members.
According to article 83, Lok Sabha elections are held every five years, unless dissolved earlier. They are conducted based on the principle of universal adult suffrage, where every citizen aged 18 and above has the right to vote. The elections are conducted in constituencies across India, and the candidates who receive the most votes in each constituency are elected as MPs.
Powers: The Lok Sabha, along with the Rajya Sabha, has the power to make laws, approve the budget, and oversee the functioning of the government. It plays a crucial role in the legislative process of India. Money bills can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha, although both houses must pass them.
The Lok Sabha elects a Speaker from among its members. The Speaker presides over the sessions of the house, maintains order, and ensures that parliamentary procedures are followed. The Speaker also plays a key role in deciding on points of order and interpreting parliamentary rules.
The Lok Sabha has various parliamentary committees, including standing committees, department-related standing committees, and ad hoc committees. These committees are responsible for scrutinizing legislation, examining the budget, and overseeing various aspects of governance.
The party or coalition with a majority in the Lok Sabha forms the government. The leader of the majority party or coalition is appointed as the Prime Minister by the President of India. The Council of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.
the Lok Sabha serves as a crucial institution in India’s democratic setup, representing the voice of the people and ensuring their participation in the governance of the country.
VIDEO | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: “I am confident that under the leadership of PM Modi, we will script a history in this election, and win all 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh to fulfill PM Modi’s slogan of ‘abki baar 400 paar’,” said Madhya Pradesh BJP chief VD Sharma (@vdsharmabjp)… pic.twitter.com/xDXsCsk26b
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 10, 2024
History of Lok Sabha Elections
The Lok Sabha, the lower house of India’s Parliament, has a rich electoral history that dates back to the first general elections held in 1952. Here’s a brief overview of the Lok Sabha election history:
1952 General Elections: India’s first general elections after independence were held from October 25, 1951, to February 21, 1952. The Indian National Congress, led by Jawaharlal Nehru, won a landslide victory, securing 364 out of 489 seats.
1957 General Elections: The Indian National Congress continued its dominance in the second general elections held in 1957. It secured 371 out of 494 seats.
1962 General Elections: The Congress party, under the leadership of Nehru, won again, securing 361 out of 494 seats.
1967 General Elections: This election marked a significant shift as it ended the Congress party’s monopoly. The Congress still emerged as the single largest party but with reduced numbers, and several regional parties gained ground.
1971 General Elections: The Congress party, under the leadership of Indira Gandhi, secured a landslide victory in the wake of the Bangladesh Liberation War. This election also saw the split of the Congress party into two factions, Congress (R) and Congress (O).
1977 General Elections: The year 1977 was significant as it marked the end of the Congress dominance at the center. The Janata Party, a coalition of several parties, won the elections, ending Indira Gandhi’s reign.
1980 General Elections: Indira Gandhi and her newly formed Congress (Indira) party came back to power with a significant majority.
1984 General Elections: Following the assassination of Indira Gandhi, sympathy waves led to a massive victory for the Congress party, which was now led by her son, Rajiv Gandhi.
1989 General Elections: The Congress party lost power again, and a coalition government led by the National Front, supported by the Left Front and the BJP, came into power.
1991 General Elections: After Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, the Congress party, now led by P.V. Narasimha Rao, formed a minority government.
1996 General Elections: No single party or alliance secured a clear majority, leading to the formation of a coalition government under the leadership of H.D. Deve Gowda of the Janata Dal.
1998 General Elections: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the single largest party, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee became the Prime Minister of India, leading a coalition government known as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
1999 General Elections: The NDA, led by the BJP, won the elections again, and Vajpayee continued as Prime Minister.
2004 General Elections: The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) won the elections, and Manmohan Singh became the Prime Minister.
2009 General Elections: The UPA, led by the Congress party, won again, and Manmohan Singh continued as Prime Minister.
2014 General Elections: The BJP, under the leadership of Narendra Modi, won a landslide victory, securing a clear majority on its own. Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister.
2019 General Elections: The BJP-led NDA won again, securing an even larger majority than in 2014, and Narendra Modi continued as Prime Minister.
Now, again after 5 years, lok sabha 2024 elections are awaited, it is already anticipated that BJP will govern the country once again.
A general election is to be held in India from 19 April 2024 to 1 June 2024 to elect the 543 members of the 18th Lok Sabha, in seven phases. The results will be announced on 4 June 2024. This is the largest-ever election in history, surpassing the 2019 Indian General Election, and lasts 44 days, second only to the 1951-52 Indian general election. The incumbent prime minister Narendera Modi, who completed a second term is running for a third ve term.
Approximately 970 million out of a population of 1.44 billion people are eligible to vote. The state legislative assembly elections in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh,Odisha and Sikkim are to be held simultaneously with the general election, along with the by-elections for 35 seats in 16 states.
How Lok Sabha Started?
The establishment of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India’s Parliament, is rooted in the democratic aspirations of the Indian people and the historical context of India’s struggle for independence from British colonial rule.
Before independence, India was governed by the British colonial administration, which had introduced various forms of representative institutions at different levels of governance. However, these institutions were largely limited in their scope and did not reflect the aspirations of the Indian people.
Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Indian leaders and activists, inspired by democratic ideals and influenced by movements for self-governance, demanded greater representation and participation in the governance of their country. The Indian National Congress, founded in 1885, became a significant platform for advocating for Indian self-rule.
Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919)
The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms introduced limited electoral representation in India for the first time. The reforms led to the establishment of the Legislative Assembly, a partially elected body with limited powers. However, this was far from the full-fledged democratic representation sought by Indian nationalists.
The Government of India Act of 1935 introduced further reforms, including the establishment of a bicameral legislature at the central level. The Act provided for the election of members to the central legislature, including the House of Assembly (the precursor to the Lok Sabha) and the Council of States (the precursor to the Rajya Sabha).
Following World War II and widespread political mobilization in India, the demand for independence grew stronger. The Indian National Congress, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, led the struggle for independence. In 1947, India gained independence from British rule, leading to the formation of the Constituent Assembly tasked with drafting the Constitution of India.
The Constitution of India, adopted on January 26, 1950, established the framework for India’s democratic governance. It provided for the establishment of the Lok Sabha as the lower house of Parliament, representing the people of India through direct elections based on adult suffrage. The first general elections to the Lok Sabha were held in 1952, marking the beginning of India’s parliamentary democracy.
The establishment of the Lok Sabha was a culmination of India’s struggle for self-governance and the vision of its leaders to create a democratic and representative system of governance reflective of the aspirations of its diverse population.
Major changes took place in Lok Sabha over the years
Several major changes have occurred in the Lok Sabha since its inception, reflecting shifts in political, social, and constitutional contexts. Here are some significant changes that have taken place:
- Expansion of Membership
The strength of the Lok Sabha has varied over the years due to changes in population and administrative divisions. Since its inception, the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha has increased from 489 in 1952 to 552 members as of 2024.
- Introduction of Anti-Defection Law:
The Anti-Defection Law was introduced through the 52nd Amendment to the Constitution in 1985, which aimed to curb political defections by legislators. This law prohibits elected members from defecting from their party or disobeying the party’s whip on voting. It has had a significant impact on party discipline and stability in the Lok Sabha.
- Introduction of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)
The use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) was introduced in Indian elections, including Lok Sabha elections, starting in the late 1990s and early 2000s. EVMs have replaced traditional paper ballots in most constituencies, making the voting process more efficient and reducing the chances of electoral malpractices.
- Delimitation of Constituencies
The process of delimitation, which involves the readjustment of territorial boundaries of parliamentary constituencies to ensure equal representation, has been carried out periodically. Delimitation exercises have resulted in changes to the geographical boundaries of Lok Sabha constituencies, impacting electoral dynamics and political representation.
- Role of Technology
Technology has played an increasingly significant role in the functioning of the Lok Sabha. The Lok Sabha has adopted various technological advancements, such as live broadcasting of proceedings, online submission of questions by Members of Parliament, and the use of digital platforms for parliamentary research and communication.
- Strengthening Parliamentary Committees
Over the years, there has been a strengthening of parliamentary committees in the Lok Sabha. These committees play a crucial role in scrutinizing legislation, examining the budget, and overseeing various aspects of governance. The number and scope of parliamentary committees have expanded to enhance the effectiveness of parliamentary oversight.
- Representation of Women
Efforts have been made to enhance the representation of women in the Lok Sabha. While the representation of women in the Lok Sabha has increased over the years, it remains lower than desired. Measures such as reservation of seats for women in local bodies and political parties’ affirmative action initiatives aim to address gender disparities in political representation.
These changes highlight the evolving nature of the Lok Sabha and its adaptation to meet the challenges of governance and representation in a dynamic democracy like India.