The 18th Lok Sabha was formed after general elections were held in India over seven phases from 19 April to 1 June 2024, to elect all members from 543 constituencies of the Lok Sabha. The votes were counted, and the results were declared on 4 June 2024. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the majority seats with 240, followed by the Indian National Congress (INC) with 99 seats. With the required absolute majority being 272 seats, having 293 seats, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition formed the government.[1][2][3] Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi (BJP) is the Leader of the House and Rahul Gandhi (INC) is the Leader of Opposition.
On 26 June 2024, Om Birla, was elected Speaker of the Lok Sabha, defeating the opposition candidate Kodikunnil Suresh, in a voice vote, making it fourth election of Lok Sabha speaker in the history of India.[5] The last time elections were held for the post of speaker was in 1976 during the tenure of the 5th Lok Sabha, with Baliram Bhagat of INC(R) defeating Jagannathrao Joshi of BJS. Birla became the 5th Speaker of the Lok Sabha to retain his post for 2 consecutive terms, after G. M. C. Balayogi, Balram Jakhar, G. S. Dhillon and M. A. Ayyangar.[6]
The 18th Lok Sabha has members of the parliament from 41 different parties. Out of the 543 seats of the Lok Sabha, 346 members (~64%) are from the 6 recognised national parties, 179 seats (~33%) are from the recognised state parties, 11 seats (~2%) are from the unrecognised parties and 7 seats (~1%) are from independent politicians. 262 (~48%) have previously served as MPs and 216 (~40%) who were re-elected from last time.[11]
The average age of the elected MPs is 56 years, which has reduced from 59 from the 17th Lok Sabha. Four elected MPs are of the age of 25, which is the minimum age to contest: Shambhavi Choudhary (of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) party from Samastipur seat), Sanjana Jatav (of Indian National Congress party from Bharatpur seat), Pushpendra Saroj (of Samajwadi Party from Kaushambi seat) and Priya Saroj (of Samajwadi Party from Machhlishahr seat). Parents of Choudhary and Sarojs have been MPs/MLAs and of Jatav have been deputy sarpanch. The oldest elected MP has been T. R. Baalu (of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party from Sriperumbudur seat) at the age of 82 having won for the 7th time.[12] Women members of the Lok Sabha have reduced by four from 78 during last tenure to now 74 (~14%).[11] The 14% strength of women in Lok Sabha is considerably short than the 33% which will be required after the Women's Reservation Bill, 2023 is enforced after the delimitation of constituencies happens post this 2024 elections.[13] Out of all the women candidates contesting the elections, only 9.3% have won.[14]
The present Lok Sabha also has a husband-wife couple - Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi MP from Kannauj) and his wife Dimple (Samajwadi Party MP from Mainpuri). The last time a couple had been elected was in the 16th Lok Sabha - Pappu Yadav (RJD MP from Madhepura) and his wife Ranjeet Ranjan (Congress MP from Supaul).[15]
Religion-wise, out of the total 543 MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha, 24 are Muslims (4.4%),[16] 3 are Buddhists (0.6%),[17] and the remaining 95% comprise Hindu, Sikh, Christian, and non-religious MPs.
The average financial assets of the members of the 18th Lok Sabha is ₹46.34 crore (US$5.6 million), and 93% of members are crorepati (having assets greater than 10 million rupee), an increase from 88% in 2019. [18]
Association for Democratic Reforms has noted that nearly 46% of the elected members (251) have registered criminal cases registered. Of these, 170 (~31%) have been registered with serious crimes that include rape, murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, and crimes against women. Comparing with 17th Lok Sabha, total of 233 MPs (~43%) had criminal charges with 159 (~29%) with serious crimes.[9] As per the self declared forms submitted before the polling, all of the elected MPs are literate. During election, 121 candidates had recorded themselves to be illiterates but none of them have won.[19] 78% of members have at least undergraduate education and 5% have doctorates. Professionally, majority of them have indicated themselves to be social workers or agriculturists and 7% are lawyers and 4% are medical practitioners.[20] With regards to economic standing, 93% of MPs hold family assets of worth more than ₹1 crore (US$120,000) and average assets of all the MPs computes to ₹46.34 crore (US$5.6 million).[10] TDP member Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, a doctor and businessman, has declared the highest assets of ₹5,700 crore (US$680 million).[21]
Lok Sabha usually has three sessions in a year Budget Session (February to May), Monsoon session (July to September) and Winter session (November to December). Following sessions were held of 18th Lok Sabha.
