The Lok Sabha, the lower house of India’s Parliament, has witnessed 17 general elections since India’s independence. Each election has played a crucial role in shaping the nation’s political landscape. This article provides a brief overview of the key facts and highlights from the 1st to the 17th Lok Sabha elections.
1st Lok Sabha (1952-1957)
Total Seats: 499
- Election Period: 25 October 1951 – 21 February 1952
- Phases: 68 voting phases
- First Ballots: Chini and Pangi in Himachal Pradesh
- Results: Congress – 364 seats, Communist Party of India (CPI) – 16 seats, Socialist Party (India) – 12 seats
- Notable Facts: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s Scheduled Caste Federation (SCF) secured 2 seats. Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar was the first Speaker.
2nd Lok Sabha (1957-1962)
Seats: 505
- Results: Congress – 371 seats, CPI – 27 seats, Praja Socialist Party – 19 seats
- Notable Facts: First session post States Reorganisation Act of 1956, with only 4 national and 11 state parties competing. 22 women were elected, with most from Madhya Pradesh.
3rd Lok Sabha (1962-1967)
Seats: 508
- Results: Congress – 44.72% votes, CPI – 9.94%, Swatantra Party – 7.89%
- Notable Facts: Indelible ink was used for the first time. Prime Ministers: Nehru, Gulzarilal Nanda (acting), Lal Bahadur Shastri, and Indira Gandhi.
4th Lok Sabha (1967-1970)
Total Seats: 523
- Results: Congress – 283 seats, Swatantra Party – 44 seats, Bharatiya Jana Sangh – 35 seats
- Notable Facts: Indira Gandhi became the first female Prime Minister. The Congress split in 1969, leading to Congress (R) and Congress (O).
5th Lok Sabha (1971-1977)
Total Seats: 521
- Results: Congress – 352 seats, CPI (Marxist) – 25 seats, CPI and DMK – 23 seats each
- Notable Facts: Indira Gandhi’s “Garibi Hatao” slogan and leadership during the Bangladesh war. Emergency declaration on 25 June 1977 marked a dark period.
6th Lok Sabha (1977-1980)
Total Seats: 544
- Results: Bharatiya Lok Dal – 295 seats, Congress – 154 seats, CPM – 22 seats
- Notable Facts: Morarji Desai became the first non-Congress Prime Minister at age 81.
7th Lok Sabha (1980-1984)
Total Seats: 531
- Results: Congress – 353 seats, Janata Party (S) – 41 seats, CPI (Marxist) – 37 seats
- Notable Facts: Unemployment, labor unrest, and increasing militancy in Punjab. Operation Blue Star led to Indira Gandhi’s assassination.
8th Lok Sabha (1984-1989)
Total Seats: 516
- Results: Congress – 414 seats, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) – 30 seats, CPM – 22 seats
- Notable Facts: Emergence of BJP and TDP. Communal disharmony, anti-Sikh riots, and the Bofors scam.
9th Lok Sabha (1989-1991)
Total Seats: 531
- Results: Janata Dal – 143 seats, BJP – 85 seats, Congress – 197 seats
- Notable Facts: V.P. Singh became Prime Minister. Mandal and Mandir politics led to nationwide unrest.
10th Lok Sabha (1991-1996)
Total Seats: 508
- Results: Congress – 232 seats, BJP – 120 seats, Janata Dal – 59 seats
- Notable Facts: Economic liberalization under Narasimha Rao. Babri Masjid demolition and Mandal Commission report caused polarization.
11th Lok Sabha (1996-1998)
Total Seats: 545
- Results: BJP – 161 seats, Congress – 140 seats, Janata Dal – 46 seats
- Notable Facts: Rise in caste-based and regional politics. United Front government faced corruption scandals and instability.
12th Lok Sabha (1998-1999)
Total Seats: 545
- Results: BJP – 182 seats, Congress – 141 seats, CPM – 32 seats
- Notable Facts: Shortest-ever session due to political instability. Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s leadership helped BJP gain prominence.
13th Lok Sabha (1999-2004)
Total Seats: 545
- Results: BJP – 182 seats, Congress – 114 seats, CPM – 33 seats
- Notable Facts: Kargil War boosted Vajpayee’s popularity. Golden Quadrilateral Project and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana launched.
14th Lok Sabha (2004-2009)
Total Seats: 545
- Results: Congress – 145 seats, BJP – 138 seats
- Notable Facts: Economic growth under Manmohan Singh. Introduction of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
15th Lok Sabha (2009-2014)
Seats: 545
- Results: Congress-led UPA retained power. Meira Kumar became the first woman Speaker.
- Notable Facts: Right to Education Act passed and Andhra Pradesh reorganized.
16th Lok Sabha (2014-2019)
Total Seats: 545
- Results: BJP – 282 seats, Congress – 37 seats
- Notable Facts: Introduction of policies like GST, demonetization, Digital India, and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. NOTA option presented for the first time.
17th Lok Sabha (2019-2024)
Total Seats: 545
- Results: BJP – 350 seats
- Notable Facts: National security, COVID-19 pandemic, farmers’ unrest, and abrogation of Article 370 were key issues. EVMs 100% backed by Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT).
Allocation of Seats Based on Delimitation Commission
Key Facts:
- Constitution Articles: 82 and 170
- Delimitation Exercises: Conducted in 1952, 1963, 1973, and 2002
- Current Law: Next delimitation may be conducted after the first census post-2026
- Commissions: Formed by the President, work closely with the Election Commission. Decisions cannot be challenged.