FIRST AMONG EQUALS

The number of new MPs in the Lok Sabha has become a statistic that is regularly measured and evaluated. THE WEEK presents ten first-timers who stand out

- SONI MISHRA

The 1984 Lok Sabha elections were historic: Rajiv Gandhi led the Congress to victory in 414 seats, a record that remains unbeaten. The election was remarkable for another reason-the large number of first-time MPs who found a place on the treasury benches. They came from diverse backgrounds, from superstar Amitabh Bachchan to hockey legend Aslam Sher Khan.

One-third of the Congress MPs were making their debut in the Lok Sabha. It was perhaps the first time that newcomers had made such a splash in the lower house.

The number of first-time MPs in the Lok Sabha has become a statistic that is regularly measured and evaluated. This time, as many as 280 MPs have been elected for the first time. That is 52 percent of the total number of MPs, or more than half the house. In the previous Lok Sabha, 267 members were first-time MPs. In 2014, when there was a change of government, the churn in the lower house was far more intense, and 314 members were first-timers who constituted 58.8 percent of the house strength.