The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): A comprehensive analysis conducted by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch (NEW) has shed light on the performance of the 17th Lok Sabha and its members. The report, released on Tuesday, reveals that a total of 222 bills were passed during the tenure of the 17th Lok Sabha, with 45 of these bills being cleared on the same day they were introduced in the House.
Some of the bills that were passed on the day of their introduction include The Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, The Appropriation Bill, The Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation (No.2) Bill, The Central Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and The Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
The report highlights that out of the 240 bills introduced during the 17th Lok Sabha, 222 were passed, 11 were withdrawn, six are pending, and only one received the President’s assent. On average, each Member of Parliament (MP) asked 165 questions and attended 189 of the 273 sittings.
MPs from Chhattisgarh had the highest average attendance, with 11 representatives from the state attending 216 of the 273 sittings. In contrast, Arunachal Pradesh had the lowest average attendance, with two of its MPs attending only 127 sittings.
The analysis also delves into engagement levels across states and political parties. Maharashtra MPs were the most vocal, with 49 representatives asking an average of 315 questions each. On the other hand, Manipur MPs asked an average of only 25 questions each.
Among political parties, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) stood out, with five of its MPs raising an average of 410 questions each. In contrast, two Apna Dal (Soneylal) MPs raised only five questions each on average.
Members of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had the highest average attendance, attending 229 of the 273 sittings. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members had the lowest attendance, with an average of only 57 sittings.
The report also identifies 10 MPs who actively participated in parliamentary proceedings by posing the highest number of questions. Topping the list is BJP’s Balurghat MP Sukanta Majumdar, who asked a total of 596 questions.
The majority of the questions raised by MPs focused on health and family welfare, agriculture and farmers’ welfare, and railways, according to the report.
The ADR and NEW analysis provides valuable insights into the functioning of the 17th Lok Sabha and the performance of its members. It highlights the need for greater participation and engagement from MPs across all states and political parties to ensure effective legislative processes and representation of citizens’ interests.
