The Election Commission of India declared the results of the 18th Lok Sabha general elections on 4 June 2024, with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) securing 293 seats — crossing the majority threshold of 272 in the 543-member House. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 240 seats as the single largest party, while the opposition INDIA alliance secured 234 seats, with the Indian National Congress winning 99 seats. The new coalition government was sworn in on 9 June 2024 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a third consecutive term.
Background
The 2024 general elections were conducted in seven phases between 19 April and 1 June 2024, spanning the entire country. The election was notable for being the first in which the BJP, after securing absolute majorities of 282 (2014) and 303 (2019) seats in previous elections, fell short of an independent majority, winning 240 seats — a net loss of 63 seats from 2019.
This outcome had significant implications for governance and the legislative process. Unlike the 16th and 17th Lok Sabha, where the BJP's standalone majority allowed the government to pass legislation without depending on coalition partners, the 18th Lok Sabha configuration requires active support from NDA allies — including the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal (United) — for the passage of ordinary legislation. For constitutional amendment bills requiring a two-thirds majority, the calculus becomes even more complex.
Key Provisions
The election results and subsequent government formation entailed the following constitutionally significant developments:
Coalition government formation: The NDA government was sworn in on 9 June 2024, with the Council of Ministers reflecting coalition compulsions. Key portfolios were distributed across alliance partners, marking a structural shift from the single-party governance model of the preceding two terms.
New Law Minister appointed: The portfolio allocations included the appointment of a new Minister of Law and Justice, a development with direct bearing on the pace and direction of judicial appointments, pending legislation, and law reform initiatives.
Legislative agenda recalibration: The coalition arithmetic necessitates recalibration of the legislative agenda. Bills that may have been introduced with confidence of passage in a single-party majority scenario now require broader consensus-building, particularly on contentious subjects such as the Uniform Civil Code, One Nation One Election framework, and amendments to personal laws.
Opposition strengthened: With 234 seats — the strongest opposition showing since 2014 — the INDIA alliance secured sufficient numbers to demand meaningful scrutiny of legislative proposals, including greater utilisation of parliamentary committees and more substantive debate time.
Implications for Practitioners
The coalition configuration of the 18th Lok Sabha has tangible implications for legal practitioners across practice areas. The legislative pipeline — particularly contentious reforms that were anticipated in the third Modi government's agenda — is likely to proceed at a more deliberate pace, with coalition consensus acting as a moderating factor.
For regulatory practitioners, the continuity of key economic ministries suggests policy stability in sectors such as banking, securities, and corporate affairs. However, practitioners advising on sectors where coalition partners hold influence — such as federal centre-state relations, agricultural policy, and education — should anticipate that policy positions may reflect negotiated outcomes rather than unilateral executive decisions.
Constitutional law practitioners should note that the strengthened opposition may reinvigorate parliamentary mechanisms that had seen reduced utilisation in recent terms, including Standing Committee referrals, calling attention motions, and more robust debate on legislative proposals before passage.