17th Lok Sabha was in the Name of Reform, Nationalism and Conflict

17th Lok Sabha was in the name of Reform, Nationalism and Conflict, many big decisions including Article 370, Triple Talaq

The second term of the Modi government and the 17th Lok Sabha were marked by major reforms, nationalism along with Hindutva and conflict between the government and the opposition.  In the very first year of its second term, the Modi government was in the news for abrogating Article 370, 35A, declaring triple talaq as a punishable offense and making the Citizenship Amendment Act.

During this, there was a fierce dispute between the government and the opposition over Pegasus espionage, the report of a foreign firm linked to Adani Group and the security lapse of Parliament.  The matter escalated so much that in the last winter session, Parliament made a record of suspending 146 MPs.

 Government showed speed

 The Modi government, which was seen adopting a soft stance on the Hindutva agenda in the first term, showed momentum in the second term.  At the same time, it also ran fast on the track of reforms.  Along with repealing many old laws, important efforts were made for transparency in the industry sector.  During this tenure, two of the three most important agendas of BJP-Jan Sangh, construction of Ram Temple and abolition of Article 370, were approved.

 Government entangled in the web of agricultural laws

 In this Lok Sabha, there was a fierce dispute between the government and the opposition over the Pegasus espionage scandal, the report of a foreign firm against the Adani Group and the entry of two youths into the Lok Sabha by breaking the security cordon in the winter session.  In this sequence, the government got so entangled with the opposition and the farmers in the matter of three controversial agricultural laws that it had to withdraw all three laws.  146 opposition MPs were suspended in four working days due to the uproar over Parliament security lapses.

Controversy over the new Parliament building

 The new Parliament building was built in the new Lok Sabha itself.  However, there was a fierce dispute between the government and the opposition on the question of its construction and inauguration.  The opposition boycotted the inauguration ceremony when the new building was inaugurated by the PM instead of the President.

 This bill is historic

 Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Bill, Indian Judicial Code, Indian Evidence Bill, Indian Civil Security Code, Social Security Code, Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, Consumer Protection Bill, Direct Tax Dispute Se Vishwas Bill, Industrial  Relationship Code Bill.

 Lok Sabha will be dissolved with 20 vacant seats

 The 17th Lok Sabha is going to be dissolved with 20 vacant seats.  There has been no by-election for the Lok Sabha in the last one year.  The Pune seat has been vacant for the longest time after the death of BJP MP Girish Bapat in March 2023.  The Supreme Court had also reprimanded the Election Commission for not holding by-elections there.  Maximum 15 seats in Parliament have become vacant due to MPs becoming MLAs.  Of these, maximum 11 seats are held by BJP MPs.

Interesting...average age was 54 years, 400 MPs graduated.

 The 17th Lok Sabha was more educated and younger.  The sex ratio was also better.  The number of MPs above 70 years of age decreased, while the number of MPs below 40 years of age increased.  The average age was estimated to be 54 years.  Female MPs were younger in average age.  There are about 400 graduates among the MPs.  The proportion of MPs educated at least till class 12th also increased.  MPs below 40 years of age were 26% in the first Lok Sabha, which reduced to just 8% by the 16th Lok Sabha.  In the 17th Lok Sabha it was 12 percent.

 Women representation is improving

 In 2019, out of 716 women candidates, 78 emerged victorious.  That means about 14 percent.  Currently there are 77 women.  There were 62 women MPs in the last Lok Sabha.  There were only 5 percent women MPs in the first Lok Sabha.  However, the proportion is still much lower than Rwanda (61 per cent), South Africa (43), the United Kingdom (32), the US (24) and Bangladesh (21 per cent).  With the passing of the Women's Reservation Bill, representation is expected to increase further.

Youngest: BJD's Chandrani Murmu...elected from Keonjhar, Odisha.  Age 25 years 11 months.

 Oldest: SP's Shafiqur Rahman Barke...MP from Sambhal in UP.  He was 89 years old at the time of elections.

 BJP, the largest party in the Lok Sabha, had 303 members, which was reduced to 290 in the last meeting.  The reason was the resignations of the members who contested and won the recent assembly elections.  397 MPs were elected from national parties.  There were 52 MPs from Congress, out of which 48 are left.