18th Lok Sabha election results

(இதன் தமிழ் வடிவத்திற்கு இங்கே சொடுக்கவும்)

Key Highlights of the 18th Lok Sabha Elections, 2024

• The results of the election to the 18th Lok Sabha were declared on June 4, 2024, marking significant milestones and changes in India's political landscape.

Historic Voter Participation

• India set a world record with 64.2 crore voters, including 31.2 crore women, participating in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

• This voter turnout is 1.5 times that of the combined voters in all G7 countries (US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Canada).
• Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar noted that this election saw only 39 instances of repolling, a substantial decrease from 540 in the 2019 General Election.
• Over 68,000 monitoring teams and 1.5 crore polling and security personnel ensured the smooth conduct of the electoral process.
• Notably, Jammu and Kashmir recorded their highest voter turnout in four decades, with an overall turnout of 58.58%, including 51.05% in the Valley.

Party Representation and Seats

• Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the largest party with 240 seats.
• Indian National Congress (INC) secured 99 seats, making it the second-largest party.
• Samajwadi Party came third with 37 seats.
• Candidates from 41 parties were elected, an increase from 36 parties in the 2019 Lok Sabha.
• National parties won 346 seats (64%), state parties won 179 seats (33%), while unrecognised parties and independents secured 11 and 7 seats, respectively.

Experience and Continuity

• 262 MPs elected to the 18th Lok Sabha have prior experience as members of Lok Sabha, and 16 have served in the Rajya Sabha.
• Two MPs have served seven terms in the Lok Sabha.
• 216 sitting MPs were re-elected, with eight changing constituencies and one MP being re-elected from two constituencies.
• Nine re-elected MPs represented different parties in the 17th Lok Sabha, and eight others represented parties that split from their original parties.

Ministerial Positions

• Out of the 53 ministers who contested, 35 have won.

Demographics of MPs

• The average age of MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha is 56 years, down from 59 years in the 17th Lok Sabha.

• 11% of MPs are 40 years or younger, 38% are between 41 and 55 years, and 52% are older than 55 years.
• The oldest MP is 82, and the youngest MPs are 25 years old.
• 74 MPs (14%) are women, slightly lower than the 78 women elected in 2019.  

• 41% of women MPs have previously served in the Lok Sabha, and one has been a member of the Rajya Sabha.
• Despite a gradual increase in the number of women MPs, India still trails behind countries like South Africa (46%), the UK (35%), and the USA (29%).

Educational and Professional Backgrounds

• 78% of MPs have at least an undergraduate degree, a trend mirrored among the newly-elected women MPs.
• 5% of MPs have a doctoral degree, including three women MPs.
• Common professions among MPs include agriculture and social work, with 91% of MPs from Chhattisgarh, 72% from Madhya Pradesh, and 65% from Gujarat indicating agriculture as their profession.
• Additionally, 7% of MPs are lawyers, and 4% are medical practitioners.

Representation Gaps

• For the first time, no Muslim MP was sworn in as a minister.
• And no Muslim candidate from NDA allies was elected to the 18th Lok Sabha, highlighting a significant representation gap.
• These highlights reflect the evolving dynamics of Indian politics and the diverse backgrounds of the elected representatives, offering insights into the composition and functioning of the 18th Lok Sabha.

Highlights of the 18th Lok Sabha Elections, 2024

• The 2024 Lok Sabha elections have set new records and brought significant political shifts.
• Here are the key highlights:

Record Voter Participation

• Largest-ever Election: The 2024 Lok Sabha election was the largest in history, lasting 44 days, second only to the 1951–52 Indian general election.
• Women Voter Participation: A record 31.2 crore (312 million) women participated, making it the highest ever participation by women voters globally.

BJP's Performance

• BJP Seats: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is the largest party with 240 seats. However, it fell short of a majority and will need allies to govern.
• BJP in Kerala: For the first time, the BJP won a seat in Kerala.
• No BJP MPs in Tamil Nadu and Punjab: Despite significant efforts, the BJP did not secure any seats in Tamil Nadu and Punjab.
• BJP's Vote Share in Tamil Nadu: The BJP achieved a double-digit vote share in Tamil Nadu without the support of Dravidian parties.

• BJP in Madhya Pradesh: In a historic first for any party in 40 years, the BJP won all 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh.
• Indore: BJP's Shankar Lalwani won by a record margin of 11,75,092 votes in Indore, where NOTA also set a record with 2.18 lakh voters opting for 'none of the above'.

Congress and Other Parties

• Congress Seats: The Indian National Congress (INC) secured 99 seats, becoming the second-largest party.

• Leader of the Opposition: With its improved performance, the Congress is now entitled to the Leader of the Opposition post for the first time since 2014.
• Congress in Gujarat: The Congress opened its account in Gujarat after a decade.
• NTK's Performance in Tamil Nadu: NTK (Naam Tamilar Katchi) performed marginally better than in the 2021 Assembly election, despite contesting on a new symbol.
• Shiv Sena and VCK: Shiv Sena's Ravindra Waikar won by just 48 votes in Mumbai North. VCK in Tamil Nadu achieved state party recognition, while PMK lost its state party status.

Prominent Winners

• Om Birla (Kota constituency, Rajasthan) became the first Lok Sabha Speaker in 20 years to be re-elected as an MP.
• Sashikanth Senthil (Tiruvallur): Achieved a significant victory of High margin of votes in Tamil Nadu.
• Rakibul Hussain: Congress candidate won by a record margin of 10.12 lakh votes in Assam's Dhubri constituency.
• TR Balu: At 82, the DMK candidate won Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu for the third consecutive time, making him the oldest candidate elected in this election.
• Priyanka Jarkiholi (Chikkodi, Karnataka): Became the youngest tribal woman to win from an unreserved seat.

Voter Turnout and Demographics

• Jammu and Kashmir: Recorded the highest turnout in four decades with 58.58% overall and 51.05% in the Valley.
• Seventy-three women were elected as MPs, down from 78 in 2019, and still below the 33% target set by the Women’s Reservation Bill.
• This highlights the ongoing challenge in achieving gender parity in Indian politics.
• Achieving the 33% target requires legislative action and stronger support for women candidates.
• NOTA Trends: Tamil Nadu witnessed a reversal of the declining trend in NOTA usage, with Indore setting a record for NOTA votes.
• Age and Experience: The average age of MPs is 56 years. Eleven percent are 40 years or younger, while 52% are older than 55 years.

Legislative Changes

• Postal Ballot Counting: Following the 2019 rule change, postal ballots were counted first, followed by EVM counting starting 30 minutes later.

New Cabinet Appointments

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Sworn in for the third consecutive term on June 10, 2024, along with 71 ministers.

• Piyush Goyal: Took charge of the Commerce and Industry Ministry, focusing on promoting economic growth.
• Jitin Prasad: Assumed charge as the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry.

Inclusion of Women Leaders:

• Seven women leaders have been inducted into the Council of Ministers, with two securing cabinet positions.  

NDA Allies' Representation:

• Leaders from NDA allies have been assigned 11 cabinet berths, underscoring the coalition’s commitment to inclusivity and representation.

Stability in Key Ministries:

• The top four ministries – Home, Defence, Finance, and External Affairs – remain unchanged, ensuring continuity in crucial areas of governance.

• Nitin Gadkari has been reappointed as the Minister of Road Transport and Highways for the third consecutive term.
• Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been appointed as the Minister of Agriculture, Farmers Welfare, and Rural Development.

• BJP President JP Nadda, now a cabinet minister, will oversee the Ministry of Health.
• Manohar Lal Khattar, former Chief Minister of Haryana, will manage the important portfolios of Power and Housing.
• HD Kumaraswamy, the only non-BJP leader among the top 10 ministers, has been given charge of the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Steel, indicating a broad-based approach to governance.
• Ashwini Vaishnaw retains his position as the railway minister, while V Somanna and Ravneet Singh Bittu have been appointed as Ministers of State for Railways.

• Annapurna Devi has been assigned the Ministry of Women and Child Development, emphasizing the focus on social welfare.
• K Rammohan Naidu from the TDP, and the youngest minister in the government, will head the Civil Aviation Ministry.

• Mansukh Mandaviya has been appointed as the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, with Raksha Khadse, the youngest woman minister, serving as the Minister of State for Sports.

• L. Murugan will serve as Minister of State in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
• Suresh Gopi from Kerala has been appointed as Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Ministry of Tourism.

-------------------------------------