General Elections and Assembly Elections- 2024

Reference

Recently, assembly elections were held in four states along with the Lok Sabha General Elections, 2024. These states include Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

Major provisions related to Lok Sabha and Assembly elections

• The term of the 17th Lok Sabha is expiring on June 16, 2024. Article 83(2) of the Constitution and Section 14 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 provide for holding elections to constitute a new Lok Sabha before the expiry of the current term.
  • According to Article 83(2) of the Constitution, the Lok Sabha shall continue for a term of five years from the date fixed for its first meeting. On the expiration of the said period, a dissolution of the House shall require the holding of elections by the Election Commission.
  • In case of proclamation of emergency, the term of the Lok Sabha may be extended by the Parliament for one year at a time but not for a period more than six months after the declaration of emergency.
• Under the constitutional and legal provisions, the Election Commission of India conducted free, fair, participatory, accessible, inclusive, transparent and peaceful elections for the 18th Lok Sabha.
• Similarly, in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 172 (1) of the Constitution of India and Article 324 read with section 15 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Election Commission of India conducted elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim.
  • According to Article 172 (1) of the Constitution, the Legislative Assembly of every State shall continue for a period of five years from the date fixed for its first meeting. On the expiration of the said period, a dissolution of the House requires the holding of elections by the Election Commission.
• According to constitutional provisions, the Lok Sabha can have a maximum of 550 members, out of which 530 members represent the states and 20 union territories.
• At present, 543 seats in the Lok Sabha are filled by elected representatives. The maximum number of Lok Sabha seats are from Uttar Pradesh.

Important facts related to the recent Lok Sabha and Assembly elections

Lok Sabha Elections, 2024

• Elections for the 18th Lok Sabha were conducted by the Election Commission of India in a total of 7 phases between 19 April to 1 June.
• The results of the Lok Sabha elections were as follows:
  • In this election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the largest party. However, no political party was successful in getting a majority on its own.

• Presently, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) gained majority and staked claim to form the government and the swearing-in ceremony was held on 09 June.
• Narendra Damodar Das Modi took oath as Prime Minister after being elected leader of the parliamentary party by the NDA.
  • Narendra Modi is the 19th Prime Minister in order and the 15th Prime Minister as an individual. 
• Narendra Modi is the first Prime Minister to be appointed for three consecutive terms after the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru.
• Mukesh Dalal, Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Surat, is the only member to be elected unopposed in this Lok Sabha election.
• The biggest victory in the 18th Lok Sabha has been registered by Congress candidate Rakibul Hasan from Dhubri constituency of Assam.

Prime Minister and Council of Ministers

• According to the 91st Constitutional Amendment, the size of the Cabinet including the Prime Minister cannot exceed 15% of the total number of members of the Lok Sabha.
• Apart from the Prime Minister, the Council of Ministers mainly includes:
  • Cabinet ministers (30)
  • Minister of State (Independent Charge) (5)
  • Ministers of State (36)
• The maximum number of members included in the cabinet in the 18th Lok Sabha are from Uttar Pradesh.

Cabinet Minister

Assembly elections in four states

Andhra Pradesh

• In the 175-member Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 164 seats and staked claim to form the government.

• In Andhra Pradesh, Telugu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidu has taken oath as Chief Minister for the fourth time.
  • Also, Janasena Party founder Pawan Kalyan took oath as Deputy Chief Minister.
• A total of 26 members, including the Chief Minister, can be included in the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet.

Odisha

• In the 147-member Odisha Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party won 78 seats and staked claim to form the government.

• Bharatiya Janata Party's Mohan Charan Manjhi has been sworn in as the Chief Minister of Odisha.
• The record of being the longest-serving Chief Minister in India is registered in the name of Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling (year 1994-2019).
  • After this, the record of being the Chief Minister for the longest time is held by former Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik.
• BJP MLA Pravati Parida Parida and KV Singh Deo have been elected as the Deputy Chief Ministers of Odisha.
  • Pravathi Parida is the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha.
• A total of 22 members including the Chief Minister can be included in the Odisha Cabinet.

Arunachal Pradesh

• In the 60-member Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party won 46 seats and staked claim to form the government.

• Bharatiya Janata Party's Pema Khandu took oath as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh for the third consecutive time.
  • With this, Chowna Meen took oath as Deputy Chief Minister.
• In Arunachal Pradesh, BJP candidates were elected unopposed on 10 seats even before the counting of votes.
  • Those elected unopposed also include the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of the state.
• The Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet can include a total of 12 members including the Chief Minister.

Sikkim

• In the 32-member Sikkim Assembly elections, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha won 31 seats and staked claim to form the government.

• Sikkim Krantikari Morcha chief Prem Singh Tamang was sworn in as chief minister of the Himalayan state of Sikkim for the second consecutive time.
• The Sikkim Legislative Assembly Council of Ministers can have a maximum of 12 members including the Chief Minister.