Next Indian general election: Difference between revisions

Created by Dhruv edits
Last edited April 24, 2026
No edit summary
add details after review and corrected details for accuracy
 
(3 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|2024 national elections of India}}
{{Short description|Future election for 19th Lok Sabha}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox election
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Next Indian General Election
| country = India
| country = India
| type = parliamentary
| type = parliamentary
| ongoing = yes
| ongoing = yes
| previous_election = 2019 Indian general election
| previous_election = 2024 Indian general election
| previous_year = 2019
| previous_year = 2024
| election_date = By May 2024
| election_date = By April 2029
| elected_mps =  
| outgoing_members = List of members of the 18th Lok Sabha
| elected_members =  
| next_election =  
| next_election =  
| next_year = 2029
| next_year =  
| seats_for_election = All 543 seats in the [[Lok Sabha]]
| seats_for_election = All [[#Delimitation|TBD]] seats in the [[Lok Sabha]]
| majority_seats = 272
| majority_seats = [[#Delimitation|TBD]]
| image1 = File:Official Photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Potrait.png
| image1 = {{CSS image crop|Image=The official portrait of Shri Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of the Republic of India.jpg|bSize=145|cWidth=115|cHeight=120|oLeft=17.5|oTop=0}}
| leader1 = [[Narendra Modi]]
| leader1 = [[Narendra Modi]]
| party1 = Bharatiya Janata Party
| party1 = Bharatiya Janata Party
| alliance1 = [[National Democratic Alliance|NDA]]
| last_election1 = 36.56%, 240 seats
| last_election1 = 37.7%, 303 seats{{efn| Total seats won by the NDA in the 2019 election is 353 seats}}
| seats_before1 = 240
| seats_before1 = 302
| seats_needed1 = [[#Delimitation|TBD]]
| seats1 =  
| seats1 =  
| seat_change1 =  
| seat_change1 =  
Line 25: Line 27:
| percentage1 =  
| percentage1 =  
| swing1 =  
| swing1 =  
| image2 = File:Rahul Gandhi 2022 January.jpg
| image2 = {{CSS image crop|Image=Rahul Gandhi.png|bSize=145|cWidth=108|cHeight=120|oLeft=20|oTop=0}}
| leader2 = [[Rahul Gandhi]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/who-will-be-congress-pm-candidate-in-2024-ls-elections-mallikarjun-kharges-answer-with-rahul-gandhi-on-stage-2529784.html|title=Who will be Congress' PM candidate in 2024 LS elections? Mallikarjun Kharge's answer, with Rahul Gandhi on stage|quote=Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said on Tuesday that the party "will form a non-BJP government" under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. |website=Zee News|date=1 November 2022}}</ref>
| leader2 = [[Rahul Gandhi]]
| party2 = Indian National Congress
| party2 = Indian National Congress
| alliance2 = [[United Progressive Alliance|UPA]]
| last_election2 = 21.19%, 99 seats
| last_election2 = 19.67%, 52 seats{{efn| Total seats won by the UPA in the 2019 election is 91 seats}}
| seats_before2 = 100
| seats_before2 = 53
| seats_needed2 = [[#Delimitation|TBD]]
| seats2 =  
| seats2 =  
| seat_change2 =  
| seat_change2 =  
Line 40: Line 42:
| before_election = [[Narendra Modi]]
| before_election = [[Narendra Modi]]
| before_party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
| before_party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
| map_image = Wahlkreise in Indien.svg
| opinion_polls = Opinion polling for the next Indian general election
| leader_since1 = 2013
| leader_since1 = 2013
| leader_since2 = 2017
| leaders_seat1 = [[Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency|Varanasi]]
| leaders_seat1 = [[Varanasi (Lok Sabha constituency)|Varanasi]]
| leader_since2 = 2024
| leaders_seat2 = [[Wayanad (Lok Sabha constituency)|Wayanad]]
| leaders_seat2 = [[Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency|Rae Bareli]]
| alliance1 = National Democratic Alliance
| alliance2 = Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance
}}
}}


'''General elections''' are expected to be held in [[India]] by May 2024 to elect the members of the 18th [[Lok Sabha]].
General elections are expected to be held in [[Elections in India|India]] by [[2029 elections in India|April 2029]] to elect [[List of constituencies of the Lok Sabha|543 members]] of the [[Lok Sabha]], the lower house of [[Parliament of India|Parliament]].


== Background ==
== Background ==
The tenure of [[Lok Sabha]] is scheduled to end on 16 June 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Terms of the Houses|url=https://eci.gov.in/elections/term-of-houses/|url-status=live|access-date=7 March 2022|website=Election Commission of India|language=en-IN}}</ref> The [[2019 Indian general election|previous general elections]] were held in April–May 2019. After the election, [[National Democratic Alliance]], led by [[Bharatiya Janata Party]], formed the [[Government of India|union government]], with [[Narendra Modi]] continuing as [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Narendra Modi sworn in as Prime Minister for second time |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/nation/narendra-modi-sworn-in-as-prime-minister-for-second-time-780564 |access-date=2022-03-07 |website=Tribuneindia News Service|language=en|date=May 30, 2019}}</ref>
The tenure of the [[18th Lok Sabha]] is scheduled to end in June 2029.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Terms of the Houses |url=https://eci.gov.in/elections/term-of-houses/ |access-date=6 June 2024 |website=Election Commission of India |language=en-IN}}</ref> In the [[2024 Indian general election]], incumbent prime minister Narendra Modi ran for a third consecutive term. His [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) had enjoyed an [[absolute majority]]—a minimum of 272 seats—in the [[2014 Indian general election|2014]] and [[2019 Indian general election|2019 elections]]. The primary opposition was the [[Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance]] (INDIA), a coalition formed in 2023 by the [[Indian National Congress]] (INC) and many regional parties. The BJP won 240 seats, with the NDA securing 293 of the house's 543 seats.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sinha |first=Shishir |date=5 June 2024 |title=NDA elects Modi as leader, President dissolves Lok Sabha |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/elections/nda-elects-modi-as-leader-president-dissolves-lok-sabha/article68255830.ece |access-date=5 June 2024 |website=BusinessLine |archive-date=5 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240605153429/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/elections/nda-elects-modi-as-leader-president-dissolves-lok-sabha/article68255830.ece |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance|INDIA coalition]] secured 234 seats, 99 of which were won by the Congress, garnering the party the official opposition status for the first time in 10 years.<ref>{{cite news |last=Aggarwal |first=Raghav |date=4 June 2024 |title=INDIA bloc's combined strength plays spoilsport for BJP in 2 biggest states |url=https://www.business-standard.com/elections/lok-sabha-election/india-bloc-s-combined-strength-plays-spoilsport-for-bjp-in-2-biggest-states-124060401570_1.html |access-date=5 June 2024 |work=Business Standard |archive-date=4 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240604151957/https://www.business-standard.com/elections/lok-sabha-election/india-bloc-s-combined-strength-plays-spoilsport-for-bjp-in-2-biggest-states-124060401570_1.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/india-election-results-narendra-modi-rcna154839 |title=India hands PM Modi a surprise setback, with his majority in doubt in the world's largest election|first1=Mithil |last1=Aggarwai |first2=Janis Mackey |last2=Frayer |publisher=NBC News |date=4 June 2024 |access-date=4 June 2024 |archive-date=4 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240604151033/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/india-election-results-narendra-modi-rcna154839|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/india/india-election-2024-nanendra-modi-6179abad |title=India's Narendra Modi Struggles to Hold On to Majority, Early Election Results Show |first1=Krishna |last1=Poharel |first2=Tripti |last2=Lahiri |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=3 June 2024 |access-date=4 June 2024 |archive-date=4 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240604115138/https://www.wsj.com/world/india/india-election-2024-nanendra-modi-6179abad |url-status=live}}</ref> Seven independents and ten candidates from non-aligned parties also won seats in the Lok Sabha.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/7-independents-and-10-from-non-aligned-parties-book-ls-seats/articleshow/110748555.cms|title=7 Independents and 10 from non-aligned parties book LS seats|newspaper=The Times of India |access-date=8 June 2024|archive-date=6 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606160440/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/7-independents-and-10-from-non-aligned-parties-book-ls-seats/articleshow/110748555.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/lok-sabha-elections-meet-seven-candidates-who-won-as-independents-101717642425035.html|title=Lok Sabha elections: Meet seven candidates who won as independents|access-date=9 June 2024|archive-date=8 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608035949/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/lok-sabha-elections-meet-seven-candidates-who-won-as-independents-101717642425035.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-politics/who-are-the-7-independents-elected-to-the-lok-sabha-9378312/|title=Who are the 7 independents elected to the Lok Sabha?|date=7 June 2024 |access-date=8 June 2024|archive-date=8 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608054640/https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-politics/who-are-the-7-independents-elected-to-the-lok-sabha-9378312/|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Electoral system==
=== Current composition of the Lok Sabha ===
All 543 elected [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|MPs]] are elected from single-member constituencies using [[first-past-the-post voting]].<ref>[http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2145_B.htm Electoral system] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170506102836/http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2145_B.htm |date=6 May 2017}} IPU</ref> The [[One Hundred and Fourth Amendment of the Constitution of India|104th amendment]] to the [[Constitution of India|constitution]] effectively abolished the [[Anglo-Indian reserved seats in the Lok Sabha|two seats that were reserved]] for the [[Anglo-Indian]] community.<ref>{{Cite news|others=Special Correspondent|date=2020-01-10|title=House ratifies quota for SC/STs in Assembly, Lok Sabha|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/house-ratifies-quota-for-scsts-in-assembly-lok-sabha/article30529538.ece|access-date=2021-01-19|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
This table relates to the composition of the Lok Sabha after the [[2024 Indian general election]] and summarises the changes in party affiliation that took place during the 2024–present Lok Sabha.


Eligible voters must be Indian citizens, 18 years or older, an ordinary resident of the polling area of the constituency and registered to vote (name included in the electoral rolls), possess a valid [[Voter ID (India)|voter identification card]] issued by the [[Election Commission of India]] or equivalent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businesstoday.in/lok-sabha-elections-2019/news/lok-sabha-election-2019-phase-3-voting-how-to-vote-without-voter-id-card/story/339375.html|title=Lok Sabha Election 2019 Phase 3 voting: How to vote without voter ID card|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524095933/https://www.businesstoday.in/lok-sabha-elections-2019/news/lok-sabha-election-2019-phase-3-voting-how-to-vote-without-voter-id-card/story/339375.html |archive-date=24 May 2019|work=Business Today|date=23 April 2019}}</ref> Some people convicted of electoral or other offences are barred from voting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ecisveep.nic.in/voters/general-voters/|title=General Voters|website=Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation|language=en-IN|access-date=4 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104180432/http://ecisveep.nic.in/voters/general-voters/|archive-date=4 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{transcluded section|source=List of members of the 18th Lok Sabha}}
{{#Section-h:List of members of the 18th Lok Sabha|Membership by party}}


Article 83 of the Constitution of India requires elections to the Lok Sabha be held once every five years.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Constitution of India Update|url=https://www.india.gov.in/sites/upload_files/npi/files/coi_part_full.pdf|access-date=2021-02-04|publisher=Government of India}}</ref>
=== Delimitation ===
The next [[Lok Sabha]] [[Electoral boundary delimitation|delimitation]] in India is due after the first census following the year 2026. According to the 84th Amendment to the Constitution of India, the current freeze on the delimitation of constituencies is set to continue until the results of the first census taken after the year 2026 are published.<ref>{{Cite news |last=R |first=Rangarajan |date=2024-02-06 |title=Understanding the delimitation exercise {{!}} Explained |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/understanding-the-delimitation-exercise-explained/article67819203.ece |access-date=2024-06-08 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> A Special Session of Parliament will be convened from the 16th of April to 18th of April 2026, to debate on this matter. The 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2026 was brought by the Government to increase the Total seats of the Lok Sabha to an upper limit of 850 seats and to make changes in the Article 334A relating to Women's Reservation, for implementation in 2029. The Delimitation bill  was withdrawn by the Government in the Lok Sabha, after the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2026 failed in the Lok Sabha on 17th April 2026, with 298 votes in favour and 230 votes against it <ref name=":0">https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/womens-reservation-bill-falls-short-in-lok-sabha-what-happened-14001707.html/amp</ref>


==Parties and alliances==
=== Women's reservation ===
<!-- DONT ADD ANY PARTY UNTIL THERE ARE NEWS SOURCES THAT CONFIRM THE ALLIANCE FOR LOK SABHA ELECTION -->
The introduction of women's reservation in the [[Lok Sabha]] is set to occur after the delimitation exercise based on the census following the year 2026. According to the [[One Hundred and Sixth Amendment of the Constitution of India|106th Amendment Act]], 33% of the total seats will be directly allocated to women in the Lok Sabha and [[State legislative assemblies of India|state legislative assemblies]].<ref>{{cite news |date=19 September 2023 |title='God has given me the opportunity', says PM Modi as women quota bill tabled in LS |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/womens-reservation-bill-to-be-tabled-in-lok-sabha-at-3-pm-today-101695109480855.html |work=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>. An Amendment to the Act was brought to the Parliament in the Special Session from 16-18th April, 2026, which had the Women's Reservation delinked from the [[#Delimitation|Delimitation exercise]] after a census following the lapse of the freeze on allocation of seats in 2026, in order for it to be implemented in 2029 Elections. Being a Constitutional Amendment, the Bill needed Two-thirds majority in both houses, and on 17th April 2026, it failed to pass the Lok Sabha, with 298 votes in favour and 230 votes against the Amendment Bill.<ref name=":0" />
==={{legend2|{{party color|National Democratic Alliance}}|[[National Democratic Alliance]]}}===
{| class="wikitable" width="61%"
! colspan="3" |Party
!Symbol
!Leader(s)
!Contesting Seats
|-
| {{party color cell|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|style="text-align:center"|BJP
|[[File:Lotos flower symbol.svg|50x50px]]
|[[Narendra Modi]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
| {{party color cell|National People's Party (India)}}
|[[National People's Party (India)|National People's Party]]
|style="text-align:center"|NPEP
|[[File:Indian Election Symbol Book.svg|50px|centre]]
|[[Conrad Sangma]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
| bgcolor="{{party color|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}"|
|[[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
|style="text-align:center"|AIADMK
|[[File:Indian election symbol two leaves.svg|50px]]           
|[[Edappadi K. Palaniswami]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
| {{party color cell|Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena}}
|[[Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena]]
|style="text-align:center"|BSHS
|[[File:Indian Election Symbol Two Swords and Shield.png|50px|centre]]
|[[Eknath Shinde]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
| {{party color cell|Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party}}
|[[Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party]]
|style="text-align:center"|RLJP
|[[File:Sewing machine Election symbol.jpg|50x50px]]
|[[Pashupati Kumar Paras]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
|{{party color cell|Bharath Dharma Jana Sena}}
|[[Bharath Dharma Jana Sena]]
|style="text-align:center"|BDJS
|
|Thushar Vellapally
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
|}


==={{legend2|{{party color|United Progressive Alliance}}|[[United Progressive Alliance]]}}===
===Schedule===
The member parties of UPA contest election as the part of regional alliances like [[United Democratic Front (Kerala)|UDF]] (led by [[Indian National Congress|INC]]) in [[Kerala]], [[Maha Vikas Aghadi|MVA]] (led by [[Nationalist Congress Party|NCP]]) in [[Maharashtra]], [[Secular Progressive Alliance|SPA]] (led by [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]]) in [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Mahagathbandhan (Bihar)|Mahagathbandhan]] (led by [[Rashtriya Janata Dal|RJD]] and [[Janata Dal (United)|JD(U)]]) in [[Bihar]]. Some parties of [[Alliances formed by left-wing parties in the states of India|LDF]] also contest with [[Secular Progressive Alliance|SPA]].
{| class="wikitable" width="61%"
! colspan="3" |Party
!Symbol
!Leader(s)
!Contesting Seats
|-
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress}}
|[[Indian National Congress]]
|style="text-align:center"|INC
|[[File:Hand INC.svg|50x50px|centre]]
|[[Rahul Gandhi]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
| {{party color cell|Nationalist Congress Party}}
|[[Nationalist Congress Party]]
|style="text-align:center"|NCP
|[[File:Nationalist Congress Party Election Symbol.png|50x50px|centre]]
|[[Sharad Pawar]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
| {{party color cell|Janata Dal (United)}}
|[[Janata Dal (United)]]
|style="text-align:center"|JD(U)
|[[File:Indian_Election_Symbol_Arrow.svg|50px|centre]]
|[[Nitish Kumar]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
|{{party color cell|Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)}}
|[[Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|Revolutionary Socialist Party]]
|style="text-align:center"|RSP
|[[File:Indian Election Symbol Spade and Stoker.png|50px|centre]]
|[[N. K. Premachandran]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
| {{party color cell|Rashtriya Janata Dal}}
|[[Rashtriya Janata Dal]]
|style="text-align:center"|RJD
|[[File:Indian_Election_Symbol_Hurricane_Lamp.png|50x50px|centre]]
|[[Tejashwi Yadav]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
|{{party color cell|Indian Union Muslim League}}
|[[Indian Union Muslim League]]
|style="text-align:center"|IUML
|[[File:Indian Election Symbol Lader.svg|50px|centre]]
|[[K. M. Kader Mohideen]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
| {{party color cell|Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)}}
|[[Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)]]
|style="text-align:center"|SHS(UBT)
|[[File:Indian Election Symbol Flamming Torch.png|50px|centre]]
|[[Uddhav Thackeray]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
| {{party color cell|Jharkhand Mukti Morcha}}
|[[Jharkhand Mukti Morcha]]
|style="text-align:center"|JMM
|[[File:Indian Election Symbol Bow And Arrow.svg|50px|centre]]
|[[Hemant Soren]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
|{{party color cell|Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi}}
|[[Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi]]
|style="text-align:center"|VCK
|[[File:Pot Symbol.png|50x50px|centre]]
|[[Thol. Thirumavalavan]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
| {{party color cell|Hindustani Awam Morcha}}
|[[Hindustani Awam Morcha]]
|style="text-align:center"|HAM
|[[File:Telephone.svg|50x50px|centre]]
|[[Jitan Ram Manjhi]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
|}


==={{legend2|{{party color|Left Front}}|[[Alliances formed by Left-wing parties in the states of India|Left Democratic Front]]}}===
[[Chief Election Commissioner of India|Chief Election Commissioner]] [[Rajiv Kumar (civil servant)|Rajiv Kumar]] has indicated that the 2029 elections would be over by the end of April to prevent heat from affecting voter turnout. Until 2004, the general elections were conducted between the cooler months of December and March.<ref>{{Cite news |last=De|first=Abhishek|date=2024-06-03|title='Next Lok Sabha polls to be over by end of April': 5 big quotes by election body|url=https://www.google.com/s/www.indiatoday.in/elections/lok-sabha/story/election-commission-press-conference-lok-sabha-polls-april-record-turnout-2547413-2024-06-03|access-date=2024-07-11 |work=India Today|language=en-IN}}</ref>


{| class="wikitable" width="61%"
== Schedule ==
! colspan="3" |Party<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sangbadpratidin.in/india/kerala-cpm-lobbying-for-making-front-against-bjp-with-congress-in-party-congress/|title=কংগ্রেস ছাড়াই বিরোধী জোট, তৃণমূলের পাশে দাঁড়িয়ে দাবি কেরল সিপিএমের|date=2022-04-09|access-date=2023-01-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/cpm-general-secretary-sitaram-yechury-calls-out-congress-on-secularism-decide-your-stand/articleshow/90697351.cms|title = CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury calls out Congress on secularism: ‘Decide your stand’|quote = The final draft of the party's political resolution gives thrust on empowering the Left parties as the third alternative.|access-date=2023-01-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| title = Press Meet |url=https://www.facebook.com/cpimtripuraofficialpage/videos/896604955098163|access-date=2023-01-13 |website= Official [[Facebook]] Page of [[CPI(M)]] Tripura State}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!Symbol
!Leader(s)
!Contesting Seats
|-
|-
| {{party color cell|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
!Poll event
|[[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
!Date
|style="text-align:center"|CPI(M)
|[[File:CPIM national symbol.png|60px|centre]]
|[[Sitaram Yechury]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
|-
| bgcolor="#F2003C"|
|Notification
|[[Communist Party of India]]
|style="text-align:center"|CPI
|[[File:CPI symbol.svg|50x50px|centre]]
|[[D Raja]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
| {{party color cell|Janata Dal (Secular)}}
|[[Janata Dal (Secular)]]
|style="text-align:center"|JD(S)
|[[File:Indian election symbol female farmer.svg|50px|centre]]
|[[H. D. Deve Gowda]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
|{{party color cell|Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)}}
|[[Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|Revolutionary Socialist Party]]
|style="text-align:center"|RSP
|[[File:Indian Election Symbol Spade and Stoker.png|50px|centre]]
|Manoj Bhattacharya
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
| {{party color cell|Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist)}}
|[[Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation]]
|style="text-align:center"|CPI(ML)L
|[[File:Flag Logo of CPIML.png|50x50 px|centre]]
|[[Dipankar Bhattacharya]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
| {{party color cell|Bharat Rashtra Samithi}}
|[[Bharat Rashtra Samithi]]
|style="text-align:center"|BRS
|[[File:BRS Symbol.jpg|50x50px|centre]]
|[[K. Chandrashekar Rao]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
| {{party color cell|Kerala Congress (M)}}
|[[Kerala Congress (M)]]
|style="text-align:center"|KC(M)
|[[File:Indian Election Symbol Two Leaves.svg|50px|centre]]
|[[Jose K. Mani]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
|bgcolor="#ac1313"|
|[[All India Forward Bloc]]
|style="text-align:center"|AIFB
|[[File:Indian Election Symbol Lion.svg|50px|centre]]
|[[Debabrata Biswas (politician)|Debabrata Biswas]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
|bgcolor="#d2544b"|
| [[Peasants and Workers Party of India]]
|style="text-align:center"|PWPI
|
|
|[[Jayant Prabhakar Patil]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
|-
|bgcolor="#e5a2a2"|
|Deadline for filing nomination
|[[Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist)]]
|style="text-align:center"|SUCI(C)
|
|
|[[Provash Ghosh]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
|}
===Non-Aligned Parties===
{| class="wikitable" width="61%"
! colspan="3" |Party
!Symbol
!Leader(s)
!Contesting Seats
|-
| {{party color cell|Bahujan Samaj Party}}
|[[Bahujan Samaj Party]]
|style="text-align:center"|BSP
|[[File:Indian Election Symbol Elephant.png|50x50px|centre]]
|[[Mayawati]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
| {{party color cell|All India Trinamool Congress}}
|[[All India Trinamool Congress]]
|style="text-align:center"|AITC
|[[File:All India Trinamool Congress symbol 2021.svg|50x50px|centre]]
|[[Mamata Banerjee]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
| {{party color cell|Aam Aadmi Party}}
|[[Aam Aadmi Party]]
|style="text-align:center"|AAP
|[[File:AAP Symbol.png|50x50px|centre]]
|[[Arvind Kejriwal]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
|{{party color cell |Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] {{efn|[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]] contest election with some parties of UPA and LDF as the leader of [[Secular Progressive Alliance|SPA]], but it is not part of any national level alliance.}}
|style="text-align:center"|DMK
|[[File:Indian election symbol rising sun.svg|50px|centre]]
|[[M. K. Stalin]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
| {{party color cell|Telugu Desam Party}}
|[[Telugu Desam Party]]
|style="text-align:center"|TDP
|[[File:Indian Election Symbol Cycle.png|50px|centre]]
|[[N. Chandrababu Naidu]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
| {{party color cell|Samajwadi Party}}
|[[Samajwadi Party]]
|style="text-align:center"|SP
|[[File:Indian Election Symbol Cycle.png|50x50px|centre]]
|[[Akhilesh Yadav]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
|-
| {{party color cell|All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen}}
|Scrutiny of nominations
|[[All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen]]
|  
|style="text-align:center"|AIMIM
|[[File:Indian Election Symbol Kite.svg|50x50px|centre]]
|[[Asaduddin Owaisi]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
|-
| {{party color cell|Biju Janata Dal}}
|Deadline for withdrawal of nomination
|[[Biju Janata Dal]]
|  
|style="text-align:center"|BJD
|[[File:Indian Election Symbol Conch.svg|50x50px|centre]]
|[[Naveen Patnaik]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
|-
| {{party color cell|YSR Congress Party}}
|Polling
|[[YSR Congress Party]]
|
|style="text-align:center"|YSRCP
|[[File:Indian Election Symbol Ceiling Fan.svg|50x50px|centre]]
|[[Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy]]
|style="text-align:center"|TBD
|-
|-
|Counting of votes
|}
|}


==Notes==
==Electoral system==
{{notelist}}
[[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|MPs]] are elected from single-member constituencies using [[first-past-the-post voting]]. Eligible voters must be Indian citizens, 18 years or older, an ordinary resident of the polling area of the constituency and registered to vote (name included in the electoral rolls), possess a valid [[Voter ID (India)|voter identification card]] issued by the [[Election Commission of India]] or equivalent. Some people convicted of electoral or other offences are barred from voting. Article 83 of the [[Constitution of India]] requires elections to the Lok Sabha be held once every five years.
 
==Surveys and polls==
{{main|Opinion polling for the next Indian general election}}


==References==
==References==
Line 351: Line 107:


{{Indian elections}}
{{Indian elections}}
{{Next Indian elections}}


[[Category:Next Indian general election| ]]
[[Category:Future elections in Asia|India]]
[[Category:Future elections in India|General]]
[[Category:Future elections in India|General]]
[[Category:Future elections in Asia|India]]
[[Category:General elections in India]]
[[Category:General elections in India|2024]]

Latest revision as of 15:39, 24 April 2026


Next Indian General Election

← 2024 By April 2029

All TBD seats in the Lok Sabha
TBD seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
 
The official portrait of Shri Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of the Republic of India.jpg
Rahul Gandhi.png
Leader Narendra Modi Rahul Gandhi
Party BJP INC
Alliance NDA Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance
Leader since 2013 2024
Leader's seat Varanasi Rae Bareli
Last election 36.56%, 240 seats 21.19%, 99 seats
Current seats 240 100
Seats needed TBD TBD

Incumbent Prime Minister

Narendra Modi
BJP



General elections are expected to be held in India by April 2029 to elect 543 members of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament.

Background[edit | edit source]

The tenure of the 18th Lok Sabha is scheduled to end in June 2029.[1] In the 2024 Indian general election, incumbent prime minister Narendra Modi ran for a third consecutive term. His Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had enjoyed an absolute majority—a minimum of 272 seats—in the 2014 and 2019 elections. The primary opposition was the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), a coalition formed in 2023 by the Indian National Congress (INC) and many regional parties. The BJP won 240 seats, with the NDA securing 293 of the house's 543 seats.[2] The INDIA coalition secured 234 seats, 99 of which were won by the Congress, garnering the party the official opposition status for the first time in 10 years.[3][4][5] Seven independents and ten candidates from non-aligned parties also won seats in the Lok Sabha.[6][7][8]

Current composition of the Lok Sabha[edit | edit source]

This table relates to the composition of the Lok Sabha after the 2024 Indian general election and summarises the changes in party affiliation that took place during the 2024–present Lok Sabha.

No. of Lok Sabha MP's party-wise:

As of 13 August 2025
Alliance Party No. of MPs Leader of the Party
Government
NDA
Seats: 293
BJP 240 Narendra Modi
TDP 16 Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu
JD(U) 12 Dileshwar Kamait
Shiv Sena 7 Shrikant Shinde
Lok Janshakti Party 5 Chirag Paswan
Janata Dal 2 M. Mallesh Babu
Janasena Party 2 Vallabhaneni Balashowry
RLD 2 Rajkumar Sangwan
Apna Dal 1 Anupriya Patel
Asom Gana Parishad 1 Phani Bhusan Choudhury
All Jharkhand Students Union 1 Chandra Prakash Choudhary
Hindustani Awam Morcha 1 Jitan Ram Manjhi
NCP 1 Sunil Tatkare
Sikkim Krantikari Morcha 1 Indra Hang Subba
United People's Party Liberal 1 Joyanta Basumatary
INDIA
Seats: 234
INC 99 Rahul Gandhi
SP 37 Akhilesh Yadav
AITC 28 Abhishek Banerjee
DMK 22 T. R. Baalu
Shiv Sena 9 Arvind Sawant
Nationalist Congress Party 8 Supriya Sule
CPI (M) 4 K. Radhakrishnan
RJD 4 Abhay Kumar Sinha
IUML 3 E. T. Mohammed Basheer
JMM 3 Joba Majhi
CPI 2 K. Subbarayan
CPI(ML)L 2 Raja Ram Singh
Jammu & Kashmir National Conference 2 Mian Altaf Ahmed
VCK 2 Thol. Thirumavalavan
Bharat Adivasi Party 1 Rajkumar Roat
Kerala Congress 1 Francis George
MDMK 1 Durai Vaiko
Rashtriya Loktantrik Party 1 Hanuman Beniwal
Revolutionary Socialist Party 1 N. K. Premachandran
Independent 3
Unalligned
Seats: 15
YSRCP 4 P. V. Midhun Reddy
AAP 3 Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer
Akali Dal 2 Amritpal Singh
AIMIM 1 Asaduddin Owaisi
Aazad Samaj Party 1 Chandrashekhar Azad
SAD 1 Harsimrat Kaur Badal
Zoram People's Movement 1 Richard Vanlalhmangaiha
Independent 2
Vacant Vacant 2 Basirhat
Shillong
Total 543

Delimitation[edit | edit source]

The next Lok Sabha delimitation in India is due after the first census following the year 2026. According to the 84th Amendment to the Constitution of India, the current freeze on the delimitation of constituencies is set to continue until the results of the first census taken after the year 2026 are published.[9] A Special Session of Parliament will be convened from the 16th of April to 18th of April 2026, to debate on this matter. The 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2026 was brought by the Government to increase the Total seats of the Lok Sabha to an upper limit of 850 seats and to make changes in the Article 334A relating to Women's Reservation, for implementation in 2029. The Delimitation bill was withdrawn by the Government in the Lok Sabha, after the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2026 failed in the Lok Sabha on 17th April 2026, with 298 votes in favour and 230 votes against it [10]

Women's reservation[edit | edit source]

The introduction of women's reservation in the Lok Sabha is set to occur after the delimitation exercise based on the census following the year 2026. According to the 106th Amendment Act, 33% of the total seats will be directly allocated to women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.[11]. An Amendment to the Act was brought to the Parliament in the Special Session from 16-18th April, 2026, which had the Women's Reservation delinked from the Delimitation exercise after a census following the lapse of the freeze on allocation of seats in 2026, in order for it to be implemented in 2029 Elections. Being a Constitutional Amendment, the Bill needed Two-thirds majority in both houses, and on 17th April 2026, it failed to pass the Lok Sabha, with 298 votes in favour and 230 votes against the Amendment Bill.[10]

Schedule[edit | edit source]

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has indicated that the 2029 elections would be over by the end of April to prevent heat from affecting voter turnout. Until 2004, the general elections were conducted between the cooler months of December and March.[12]

Schedule[edit | edit source]

Poll event Date
Notification
Deadline for filing nomination
Scrutiny of nominations
Deadline for withdrawal of nomination
Polling
Counting of votes

Electoral system[edit | edit source]

MPs are elected from single-member constituencies using first-past-the-post voting. Eligible voters must be Indian citizens, 18 years or older, an ordinary resident of the polling area of the constituency and registered to vote (name included in the electoral rolls), possess a valid voter identification card issued by the Election Commission of India or equivalent. Some people convicted of electoral or other offences are barred from voting. Article 83 of the Constitution of India requires elections to the Lok Sabha be held once every five years.

Surveys and polls[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. "Terms of the Houses". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  2. Sinha, Shishir (5 June 2024). "NDA elects Modi as leader, President dissolves Lok Sabha". BusinessLine. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  3. Aggarwal, Raghav (4 June 2024). "INDIA bloc's combined strength plays spoilsport for BJP in 2 biggest states". Business Standard. Archived from the original on 4 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  4. Aggarwai, Mithil; Frayer, Janis Mackey (4 June 2024). "India hands PM Modi a surprise setback, with his majority in doubt in the world's largest election". NBC News. Archived from the original on 4 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  5. Poharel, Krishna; Lahiri, Tripti (3 June 2024). "India's Narendra Modi Struggles to Hold On to Majority, Early Election Results Show". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 4 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  6. "7 Independents and 10 from non-aligned parties book LS seats". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  7. "Lok Sabha elections: Meet seven candidates who won as independents". Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  8. "Who are the 7 independents elected to the Lok Sabha?". 7 June 2024. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  9. R, Rangarajan (6 February 2024). "Understanding the delimitation exercise | Explained". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  10. 10.0 10.1 https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/womens-reservation-bill-falls-short-in-lok-sabha-what-happened-14001707.html/amp
  11. "'God has given me the opportunity', says PM Modi as women quota bill tabled in LS". Hindustan Times. 19 September 2023.
  12. De, Abhishek (3 June 2024). "'Next Lok Sabha polls to be over by end of April': 5 big quotes by election body". India Today. Retrieved 11 July 2024.