India General Elections 2024

Lok Sabha Elections: With 6 of the 7 scheduled phases over, the finish line is almost in sight for India's 2024 general elections. The last phase of voting is on June 1 and the results will be out on June 4. The term of the 17th Lok Sabha is set to expire on June 16, 2024.

2024 Lok Sabha detailed poll schedule
The Election Commission, on March 16, announced the schedule for the Lok Sabha elections. Voting commenced on April 19. The second phase was on April 26, the third phase on May 7, the fourth phase on May 13, the fifth phase on May 20, the sixth phase on May 25.

Modi's pitch
After 2014’s 'abki baar Modi sarkar' and 2019’s 'phir ek baar Modi sarkar', BJP’s pitch this time in Lok Sabha elections has been 'abki baar 400 paar'. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is confident of returning to power (it will be his third straight term if BJP wins) and has said on various occasions that BJP alone will get 370 seats in Lok Sabha elections out of the 543 seats that are contested in India.

Ranged on the other side of the poll battle is the India (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) bloc, a combine formed by the coming together of a number of opposition parties such as Gandhi-led Congress, Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress and Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party.

Lok Sabha, in numbers
India's Lok Sabha has 545 seats, with 543 filled through elections and the remaining 2 nominated by the President. These 2 nominated seats are meant for representatives of the Anglo-Indian community, but only if the President believes they are not adequately represented through the elected seats. All 543 elected Members of Parliament (MPs) are chosen through a first-past-the-post voting system in single-member constituencies.

To be eligible to vote, individuals must be Indian citizens, aged 18 or older, ordinary residents of the polling area within the constituency, and registered voters with their names on the electoral rolls. A valid voter identification card issued by the Election Commission of India or an equivalent document is a prerequisite. Certain individuals convicted of electoral or other offenses are disqualified from voting.

These elections are conducted in accordance with the established schedule and the constitutional mandate of parliamentary elections occurring once every five years.

2019 Lok Sabha Elections
In 2019, India conducted its general elections in seven phases, from April 11 to May 19, and the final results were announced on May 23. The BJP emerged victorious with a resounding win, securing 303 seats to establish the government.

912 million citizens were eligible to cast their votes, contributing to a record-breaking voter turnout of over 67%. This election marked the highest participation of women voters in history.

The BJP, with 37.36% vote share, achieved the highest percentage by a political party since the 1989 general election. This translated into the party securing 303 seats, strengthening its considerable majority.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) collectively won 353 seats. The BJP alone garnered 37.76% of the votes, while the combined NDA vote constituted 45% of the 603.7 million votes cast. On the other hand, the Congress secured 52 seats, falling short of the 10% threshold required to claim the Leader of the Opposition position. The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) secured 91 seats, while other parties collectively won 98 seats.

What were the results in 2019 Lok Sabha elections?
India held general elections spanning seven phases from April 11 to May 19, 2019. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a landslide victory, clinching 303 seats to return to power for a second consecutive term. Leading the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the BJP-led coalition secured a total of 353 seats. In contrast, the Congress party secured 52 seats, falling short of the 10% threshold required to qualify for the Leader of the Opposition position.