The Lok Sabha is the lower house of the Indian Parliament, situated in New Delhi. Originally, the Lok Sabha had 489 seats when it was first convened in 1952. Over time, the number of seats increased to 543 to accommodate the growing population and ensure proportional representation. The new Parliament building, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023, has a seating capacity of over 800.
The first Lok Sabha session commenced on May 13, 1952, marking a significant milestone in India’s democratic journey. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, addressed the inaugural session, setting the tone for parliamentary proceedings.
There are general elections held every five years that elect members of Parliament from 543 seats in the Lok Sabha. They are responsible for enacting laws, the most notable being the budget. The leader of the party with the largest number of MPs in the Lok Sabha forms the government at the Centre. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is chosen by a simple majority of the assembly’s members and is ranked sixth in order of precedence.
A great loss to parliamentary democracy. Prof Somnath Chatterjee defined what a Speaker’s impartiality should be like. Also a man of courage, stood up to the apex court when it was a question of defending the supremacy of Parliament. Lal salaam …