A Journey from Nehru to Modi

 

India's Lok Sabha Elections: A Journey from Nehru to Modi

BY AMREEN AHMAD

The Lok Sabha, the lower house of India's Parliament, has been the cornerstone of the nation's democratic journey since independence. It represents the voice of the Indian people, with members elected every five years.  From the early years of independence, marked by the Congress Party's dominance and the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru. It traces the key milestones and political shifts in each Lok Sabha from its inception in 1952 to the present day. With India gaining independence in 1947, the need for a robust electoral system became paramount. The Constitution of India, adopted on January 26, 1950, established the Election Commission of India as an autonomous body responsible for conducting free and fair elections. Sukumar Sen, a distinguished civil servant, was appointed as the first Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India.



History of Lok Sabha Elections

1st Lok Sabha (1952 - 1957):

The first election took place after India's independence. The Congress Party, led by Jawaharlal Nehru, won due to its role in the freedom struggle and Nehru's popularity. The country needed stability and economic growth.

2nd Lok Sabha (1957 - 1962):

Congress remained in power, benefiting from a weak opposition and Nehru's vision of a socialist India.

3rd Lok Sabha (1962 - 1967):

Congress won again but faced internal dissent and the rise of regional parties. India went to war with China and Pakistan, and maintained a non-alignment stance in foreign policy.

4th Lok Sabha (1967 - 1970):

Indira Gandhi became India's first female Prime Minister. She faced internal conflict within Congress, leading to coalition governments.

5th Lok Sabha (1971 - 1977):

Indira Gandhi's "Garibi Hatao" campaign and the Bangladesh War made her popular, but her authoritarian actions led to the Emergency period, suspending civil liberties.

6th Lok Sabha (1977 - 1980):

After the Emergency, voters rejected Congress, electing the Janata Party led by Morarji Desai. The new government faced internal conflicts and instability.

7th Lok Sabha (1980 - 1984):

Indira Gandhi returned to power. The country faced unemployment, labor unrest, and rising militancy in Punjab.

8th Lok Sabha (1984 - 1989):

Rajiv Gandhi became Prime Minister after Indira's assassination. His term was marked by communal riots, the Bofors scam, and political turmoil.

9th Lok Sabha (1989 - 1991):

No party had a majority. V.P. Singh of Janata Dal briefly led a coalition. The period saw the rise of "Mandir and Mandal" politics, creating unrest.

10th Lok Sabha (1991 - 1996):

Narasimha Rao introduced economic liberalization. The Babri Masjid demolition and Mandal Commission report caused violent polarization.

11th Lok Sabha (1996 - 1998):

Caste-based and regional politics rose as Congress's popularity waned. The United Front coalition government faced corruption scandals and instability.

12th Lok Sabha (1998 - 1999):

The shortest session due to coalition instability. Atal Bihari Vajpayee's leadership brought the BJP to prominence.

13th Lok Sabha (1999 - 2004):

The Kargil War boosted Vajpayee's popularity. However, the 2001 Parliament attack, 2002 Gujarat riots, and internal BJP issues caused trouble for the government.

14th Lok Sabha (2004 - 2009):

Manmohan Singh's government saw economic growth, new laws like the Right to Information Act, and the Indo-U.S. Nuclear Deal.

15th Lok Sabha (2009 - 2014):

The Congress-led UPA continued in power, enacting key laws like the Right to Education Act. The term was marred by an economic slowdown and corruption scandals.

16th Lok Sabha (2014 - 2019):

The BJP, led by Narendra Modi, won with the promise of "acche din" (good days) and fighting corruption and stagnation.

17th Lok Sabha (2019 - 2024):

Modi's BJP solidified its power. This period was marked by national security issues, the COVID-19 pandemic, farmers' protests, communal tensions, protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, and the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

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