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This is an archive article published on June 20, 2019

Regional languages score over English in Lok Sabha oath

The number of MPs who took oath in English has come down from 114 in 2014 to 54 in 2019.

Supreme court of india, supreme court, election commission of india, election commission, gujarat rajya sabha seats, rajya sabha elections, rajya sabha seats gujarat, india news, amit shah, smriti irani The 17th Lok Sabha has seen members taking oath in as many as 20 different languages.

The 17th Lok Sabha has seen a significant drop in the number of MPs taking oath in English, with members increasingly choosing regional languages to take the oath. This shift from English to regional languages has largely been observed among members from the southern states.

The number of MPs who took oath in English has come down from 114 in 2014 to 54 in 2019.

The 17th Lok Sabha has seen members taking oath in as many as 20 different languages.

As per the rules of the House, a member can take the oath in any language specified in the eighth schedule of the Constitution.

Hindi remains the most dominant with 210 members taking oath in the language. The number is higher compared to 2014 when 202 MPs took oath in the language, but lower than 2009 when 229 MPs had preferred Hindi.

This shift from English to regional languages has been seen largely among MPs from the southern states, especially Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. In 2014, only 7 MPs took their oath in Tamil; this has now increased to 39.

Similarly, the number of members who took oath in Telugu has gone up from 13 in 2014 to 24 this time. The number of MPs who took oath in Bengali has increased from 22 to 29. While 39 members took oath in Sanskrit in 2014, the number has risen to 44 this time.

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This is also the first time when two MPs have taken the oath in Nepali.

Zeeshan Shaikh is the Associate Editor who heads The Indian Express' Mumbai reporting team. He is recognized for his highly specialized Expertise in analyzing the complex dynamics of Maharashtra politics and critical minority issues, providing in-depth, nuanced, and Trustworthy reports. Expertise  Senior Editorial Role: As an Associate Editor leading the Mumbai reporting team, Zeeshan Shaikh holds a position of significant Authority and journalistic responsibility at a leading national newspaper. Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on two interconnected, high-impact areas: Maharashtra Politics & Urban Power Structures: Provides deep-dive analyses into political strategies, municipal elections (e.g., BMC polls), the history of alliances (e.g., Shiv Sena's shifting partners), and the changing demographics that influence civic power in Mumbai. Minority Issues and Socio-Political Trends: Excels in coverage of the Muslim community's representation in power, demographic shifts, socio-economic challenges, and the historical context of sensitive political and cultural issues (e.g., the 'Vande Mataram' debate's roots in the BMC). Investigative Depth: His articles frequently delve into the historical roots and contemporary consequences of major events, ranging from the rise of extremist groups in specific villages (e.g., Borivali-Padgha) to the long-term collapse of established political parties (e.g., Congress in Mumbai). Trustworthiness & Credibility Data-Driven Analysis: Zeeshan's work often incorporates empirical data, such as National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics on arrests and convictions of minorities, or data on asset growth of politicians, grounding his reports in factual evidence. Focus on Hinterland Issues: While based in Mumbai, he maintains a wide lens, covering issues affecting the state's hinterlands, including water crises, infrastructure delays, and the plight of marginalized communities (e.g., manual scavengers). Institutional Affiliation: His senior position at The Indian Express—a publication known for its tradition of rigorous political and investigative journalism—underscores the high level of editorial vetting and Trustworthiness of his reports. He tweets @zeeshansahafi ... Read More

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