List of longest-serving members of the Parliament of India

Last updated

Atal Bihari Vajpayee (crop 2).jpg
Atal Bihari Vajpayee, India's longest-ever serving Member of Parliament (tenure of 50 years, 3 months and 23 days), and also the longest-serving Lok Sabha MP (40 years, 6 months and 15 days in that house).
Vijaya Raje Scindia 2001 stamp of India.jpg
Vijaya Raje Scindia, the longest-serving female member of the Parliament of India (36 years, 6 months and 19 days).
Najma A. Heptulla presenting the Badalte Qadam Award to the Cinematographer, Doordarshan, Ms. Jayshree Puri, at the Best Achievers Award Ceremony, organised by the Child Care & Welfare Foundation, in New Delhi (cropped).jpg
Najma Heptulla, the longest-serving Rajya Sabha MP (34 years, 2 months and 29 days).

The following is a list of the longest-serving members of the Parliament of India, who have completed tenures totaling at least 30 years. The present bicameral Parliament is a continuation of the unicameral Provisional Parliament established on 26 January 1950. Parliamentarians who have served in the Provisional Parliament of India (26 January 1950–5 March 1952), the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha (from 1952) are included.

Contents

Tenures begin from the date the respective member initially took their oath or affirmation of office, and end with either the dissolution date of that Lok Sabha or with the date the member vacated their seat. If two members have tenures of identical length, they are ranked by seniority in the order they took their seats in a given chamber, where applicable. Unless otherwise referenced, dates are from the official websites and records of the respective parliamentary debates. [1] [2] [3] [4]

List

Key
#MemberPortraitParty affiliations [a] House of Parliament
(constituencies/states represented) [b] 		Start of tenureEnd of tenureTime in officeOverall tenure
1 Atal Bihari Vajpayee
(1924 – 2018)		 Atal Bihari Vajpayee (crop 2).jpg   BJS (1957–1977)
  JP (1977–1980)
  BJP (1980–2009)		Lok Sabha
(Balrampur)		10 May 195731 March 19624 years, 10 months and 21 days50 years, 3 months and 23 days
Lok Sabha
(Balrampur 1967–1971; Gwalior 1971–1977; New Delhi 1977–1984)		16 March 196731 December 198417 years, 9 months and 15 days
Lok Sabha
(Lucknow)		9 July 199118 May 200917 years, 10 months and 9 days
Rajya Sabha
(Uttar Pradesh)		17 April 196225 February 1967 [c] 4 years, 10 months and 8 days
Rajya Sabha
(Madhya Pradesh)		17 July 198617 June 1991 [c] 4 years and 11 months
2 Lal Krishna Advani
(b. 1927)		 Lalkrishna Advani.jpg   BJS (1970–1977)
  JP (1977–1980)
  BJP (1980–2019)		Rajya Sabha
(NCT Delhi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh)		3 April 197027 November 1989 [c] 19 years, 7 months and 24 days46 years, 10 months and 24 days
Lok Sabha (Gandhinagar)18 December 198916 January 1996 [d] 6 years and 29 days
Lok Sabha
(New Delhi)		23 March 199824 May 201921 years, 2 months and 1 day
3 Tridib Chaudhuri
(1911–1997)		 No image available.svg   RSP
(1952–1984, 1987–1997)		Lok Sabha
(Baharampur)		13 May 195231 December 198432 years, 7 months and 18 days43 years and 12 days
Rajya Sabha
(West Bengal)		27 July 198721 December 1997 † 10 years, 4 months and 24 days
4 Oscar Fernandes
(1941–2021)		 Oscar Fernandes at launch of the Pilot Project for Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims on Gurgaon-Jaipur Stretch of NH-8.jpg   INC
(1980–2021)		Lok Sabha
(Udupi)		21 January 19804 December 199717 years, 10 months and 13 days41 years, 1 month and 25 days
Rajya Sabha
(Karnataka)		1 June 199813 September 2021 † 23 years, 3 months and 12 days
5 Chandra Shekhar
(1927–2007)		 Chandra Shekhar Singh 2010 stamp alt.jpg   PSP (1962–1964)
  INC (1964–1969)
  INC (R) (1969–1975)
  Independent (1975–1977)
  JP (1977–1988)
  JD (1988–1990)
  SJP (R) (1990–2007)		Rajya Sabha
(Uttar Pradesh)		17 April 196222 March 197714 years, 11 months and 5 days40 years and 3 months
Lok Sabha
(Ballia)		25 March 197731 December 19847 years, 9 months and 6 days
19 December 19898 July 2007 † 17 years, 6 months and 19 days
6 Ahmed Patel
(1949–2020)		 Shri Ahmed Patel.jpg   INC
(1977–2020)		Lok Sabha
(Bharuch)		25 March 197727 November 198912 years, 8 months and 2 days39 years, 11 months and 7 days
Rajya Sabha
(Gujarat)		20 August 199325 November 2020 † 27 years, 3 months and 5 days
7 Frank Anthony
(1908 – 1993)		 Frank Anthony 2003 stamp of India.jpg   (Nominated Anglo-Indian)Provisional Parliament (1950–1952)
Lok Sabha (from 1952)		28 January 195018 January 197726 years, 11 months and 21 days39 years, 2 months and 21 days
21 January 198027 November 19899 years, 10 months and 6 days
9 July 19913 December 1993 † 2 years, 4 months and 24 days
8 P. M. Sayeed
(1941–2005)		 P.M. Sayeed.jpg   INC (1967–1969, 1978–2005)
  INC (R) (1969–1978)		Lok Sabha (Lakshadweep)16 March 19676 February 200436 years, 10 months and 21 days38 years, 2 months and 23 days
Rajya Sabha
(NCT Delhi)		16 August 200418 December 2005 † 1 year, 4 months and 2 days
9 Karan Singh
(b. 1931)		 Pranab Mukherjee receiving the first copy of the book entitled "VB-Raju-The Visionary Leader" from the President of ICCR, Dr. Karan Singh, at Rashtrapati Bhavan (cropped).jpg   INC (1967–1969, 2000–2018)
  INC (R) (1969–1978)
  INC (U) (1978–1984)
  Independent (1984)
  JKNC (1996–1999)		Lok Sabha (Udhampur)22 May 196731 December 198417 years, 7 months and 9 days38 years, 2 months and 23 days
Rajya Sabha
(Jammu and Kashmir)		2 December 199612 August 19992 years, 8 months and 10 days
Rajya Sabha
(NCT Delhi)		23 February 200027 January 201817 years, 11 months and 4 days
10 Ram Jethmalani
(1923 – 2019)		 Ram Jethmalani (cropped).jpg   JP (1977–1984)
  JD (1988–1994)
  Independent (1994–2006)
  Nominated (2006–2009)
  Independent (2010–2016)
  RJD (2016–2019)		Lok Sabha
(Bombay North West)		25 March 197731 December 19847 years, 9 months and 6 days38 years, 1 month and 11 days
Rajya Sabha
(Karnataka 1988–1994
Maharashtra 1994–2006
Nominated 2006–2009)		25 April 198826 August 200921 years, 4 months and 1 day
Rajya Sabha
(Rajasthan)		26 July 20108 June 20165 years, 10 months and 13 days
Rajya Sabha
(Bihar)		18 July 20168 September 20193 years, 1 month and 21 days
11 Indrajit Gupta
(1919–2001)		 No image available.svg   CPI
(1960–1977, 1980–2001)		Lok Sabha
(Calcutta South West 1960–1967; Alipore 1967–1977)		1 August 196018 January 197716 years, 5 months and 17 days37 years, 6 months and 17 days
Lok Sabha
(Basirhat 1980–1989; Medinipur 1989–2001)		21 January 198020 February 2001 † 21 years and 30 days
12 Kamal Nath
(b. 1946)		 Kamal Nath 2012.jpg   INC
(1980–2019)		Lok Sabha
(Chhindwara)		21 January 198010 May 199616 years, 3 months and 19 days37 years, 5 months and 19 days
24 March 199824 May 201921 years and 2 months
13 Ghulam Nabi Azad
(b. 1949)		 Ghulam Nabi Azad-cropped.JPG   INC
(1980–1989, 1990–2021)		Lok Sabha
(Washim)		21 January 198027 November 19899 years, 10 months and 6 days37 years, 2 months and 27 days
Rajya Sabha
(Maharashtra)		9 April 19902 April 19965 years, 11 months and 24 days
Rajya Sabha
(Jammu and Kashmir)		2 December 199629 April 20069 years, 4 months and 27 days
16 February 200915 February 202111 years, 11 months and 30 days
14 Ram Vilas Paswan
(1946–2020)		 Ram Vilas Paswan addressing a press conference on four years achievements of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, in New Delhi.JPG   JP (1977–1980)
  LD (1980–1984)
  JD (1989–1999)
  JD (U) (1999–2000)
  LJP (2000–2020)		Lok Sabha
(Hajipur)		25 March 197731 December 19847 years, 9 months and 6 days37 years, 2 months and 22 days
Lok Sabha
(Hajipur 1989–1991, 1996–2009, 2014–2019;
Rosera 1991–1996)		18 December 198918 May 200919 years and 5 months
5 June 201424 May 20194 years, 11 months and 19 days
Rajya Sabha
(Bihar)		26 July 201016 May 2014 [c] 3 years, 9 months and 20 days
1 July 20198 October 2020 † 1 year, 3 months and 7 days
15 Pranab Mukherjee
(1935–2020)		 The Defence Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee addressing a Press Conference in South Block, New Delhi on July 10, 2004.jpg   INC (R) (1969–1978)
  INC (1978–2012)		Rajya Sabha
(West Bengal)		21 July 19699 July 198111 years, 11 months and 18 days36 years, 10 months and 1 day
20 August 199313 May 2004 [c] 10 years, 8 months and 23 days
Rajya Sabha
(Gujarat)		17 August 198113 August 19875 years, 11 months and 27 days
Lok Sabha
(Jangipur)		2 June 200425 July 2012 [e] 8 years, 1 month and 23 days
16 Bali Ram Bhagat
(1922–2011)		 B.R. Bhagat in a meeting (cropped).png   INC (1950–1969, 1984–1989)
  INC (R) (1969–1977)
  INC (U) (1979–1981)
  IC (S) (1981–1984)		Provisional Parliament (1950–1952)
Lok Sabha (from 1952)
(Patna-cum-Shahabad 1952–1957, renamed Shahabad 1957)		28 January 195018 January 197726 years, 11 months and 21 days36 years, 9 months and 27 days
Lok Sabha
(Sitamarhi 1980–1984; Arrah 1984–1989)		21 January 198027 November 19899 years, 10 months and 6 days
17 Bhola Raut
(1914–1995)		 No image available.svg   INC (1950–1969, 1980–1989)
  INC (R) (1969–1977)		Provisional Parliament (1950–1952)
Lok Sabha (from 1952)
(Bagaha)		28 January 195018 January 197726 years, 11 months and 21 days36 years, 9 months and 27 days
21 January 198027 November 19899 years, 10 months and 6 days
18 Arjun Charan Sethi
(1941–2020)		 Arjun Charan Sethi Image.jpg   INC (R) (1971–1977)
  INC (1980–1984)
  JD (1991–1996)
  BJD (1998–2019)		Lok Sabha
(Bhadrak)		19 March 197118 January 19775 years, 9 months and 30 days36 years, 9 months and 12 days
21 January 198031 December 19844 years, 11 months and 10 days
9 July 199110 May 19964 years, 10 months and 1 day
23 March 199824 May 201921 years, 2 months and 1 day
19 Somnath Chatterjee
(1929–2018)		 The Speaker, Lok Sabha, Shri Somnath Chatterjee addressing a press conference, in New Delhi on February 27, 2009.jpg   CPI (M) (1971–2008)
  Independent (2008–2009)		Lok Sabha
(Burdwan 1971–1977; Jadavpur 1977–1984)		19 March 197115 June 1984 [f] 13 years, 2 months and 27 days36 years, 7 months and 26 days
Lok Sabha
(Bolpur)		19 December 198518 May 200923 years, 4 months and 29 days
20 Vijaya Raje Scindia
(1919–2001)		 Vijaya Raje Scindia 2001 stamp of India.jpg   INC (1957–1967)
  SWA (1967)
  BJS (1971–1977)
  JP (1977–1984)
  BJP (1984–1999)		Lok Sabha
(Guna 1957–1962; Gwalior 1962–1967)		10 May 19576 March 1967 [g] 9 years, 9 months and 24 days36 years, 6 months and 19 days
Lok Sabha
(Bhind)		19 March 197118 January 19775 years, 9 months and 30 days
Rajya Sabha
(Madhya Pradesh)		10 May 197827 November 1989 [c] 11 years, 6 months and 17 days
Lok Sabha
(Guna)		18 December 198926 April 19999 years, 4 months and 8 days
21 Jagjivan Ram
(1908 – 1986)		 Jagjivan Ram 1991 stamp of India.jpg   INC (1950–1969, 1980–1986)
  INC (R) (1969–1977)
  CFD (1977)
  JP (1977–1979)		Provisional Parliament (1950–1952)
Lok Sabha (from 1952)
(Shahabad South 1952–1957, renamed Sasaram from 1957)		28 January 19506 July 1986 † Arrow east.svg 36 years, 5 months and 8 days
22 Vidya Charan Shukla
(1929–2013)		 Vidya Charan Shukla (cropped).jpg   INC (1957–1969, 1980–1987, 1991–1996)
  INC (R) (1969–1977)
  JM (1987–1989)
  SJP(R) (1990–1991)		Lok Sabha
(Balodabazar 1957–1962; Mahasamund 1962–1971; Raipur 1971–1977)		10 May 195718 January 197719 years, 8 months and 8 days35 years, 11 months and 27 days
Lok Sabha
(Mahasamund 1980–1991; Raipur 1991–1996)		21 January 198010 May 199616 years, 3 months and 19 days
23 Ashoke Kumar Sen
(1913–1996)		 Ashoke Sen official portrait.gif   INC (1957–1969, 1980–1990)
  INC (R) (1969–1977)
  JD (1990–1996)		Lok Sabha
(Calcutta North West)		10 May 195718 January 197719 years, 8 months and 8 days35 years, 6 months and 8 days
21 January 198027 November 19899 years, 10 months and 6 days
Rajya Sabha
(West Bengal)		9 April 19902 April 19965 years, 11 months and 24 days
24 Mahendra Prasad
(1940–2021)		 Newly elected Rajya Sabha MP, Dr. Mahendra Prasad taking oath of Office at Parliament House in New Delhi on April 3, 2006.jpg   INC (1980–1992)
  Nominated (1993–1994)
  JD (U) (2000–2021)		Lok Sabha
(Jahanabad)		21 January 198031 December 19844 years, 11 months and 10 days35 years, 3 months and 24 days
Rajya Sabha
(Bihar)		31 January 19856 July 19927 years, 5 months and 6 days
27 August 199324 November 19941 year, 2 months and 28 days
17 April 200027 December 2021 † 21 years, 8 months and 10 days
25 Buta Singh
(1934–2021)		 Buta Singh (headshot).jpg   SAD (1962–1967)
  INC (1967–1969, 1980–1998, 1999–2004)
  INC (R) (1969–1977)
  Independent (1998)		Lok Sabha
(Moga 1962–1967; Ropar 1967–1977)		16 April 196218 January 197714 years, 9 months and 2 days35 years, 3 months and 23 days
Lok Sabha
(Ropar 1980–1984; Jalore 1984–1989)		21 January 198027 November 19899 years, 10 months and 6 days
Lok Sabha
(Jalore)		9 July 199110 May 19964 years, 10 months and 1 day
23 March 19986 February 20045 years, 10 months and 14 days
26 Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait
(1922–2005)		 No image available.svg   IUML
(1960–1996)		Rajya Sabha
(Kerala)		6 April 19602 April 19665 years, 11 months and 27 days35 years, 1 month and 21 days
Lok Sabha
(Kozhikode 1967–1977; Manjeri 1977–1991; Ponnani 1991–1996)		16 March 196710 May 199629 years, 1 month and 24 days
27 Maragatham Chandrasekar
(1917–2001)		 Maragatham Chandrasekar Lok Sabha portrait.gif   INC (1952–1969, 1980–1996)
  INC (R) (1969–1977)		Lok Sabha
(Tiruvallur 1952–1957; Mayuram 1962–1967)		13 May 19524 April 19574 years, 10 months and 22 days34 years, 11 months and 29 days
16 April 19623 March 19674 years, 10 months and 15 days
Rajya Sabha
(Nominated (INC))		3 April 19704 February 19765 years, 10 months and 1 day
3 April 19764 February 19825 years, 10 months and 1 day
4 October 198229 December 1984 [c] 2 years, 2 months and 25 days
Lok Sabha
(Sriperumbudur)		15 January 198510 May 199611 years, 3 months and 25 days
28 Murasoli Maran
(1934–2003)		 Murasoli Maran 2004 stamp of India.jpg   DMK
(1967–2003)		Lok Sabha
(Madras South)		23 November 196718 January 19779 years, 1 month and 26 days34 years, 7 months and 24 days
Rajya Sabha
(Tamil Nadu)		26 July 197724 July 199517 years, 11 months and 28 days
Lok Sabha
(Chennai North)		23 May 199623 November 2003 † 7 years and 6 months
29 Basudeb Acharia
(1942–2023)		 No image available.svg   CPI (M)
(1980–2014)		Lok Sabha
(Bankura)		21 January 198018 May 2014 Arrow east.svg 34 years, 3 months and 27 days
30 Najma Heptulla
(b. 1940)		 Najma A. Heptulla presenting the Badalte Qadam Award to the Cinematographer, Doordarshan, Ms. Jayshree Puri, at the Best Achievers Award Ceremony, organised by the Child Care & Welfare Foundation, in New Delhi (cropped).jpg   INC (1980–2004)
  BJP (2004–2016)		Rajya Sabha
(Maharashtra)		7 July 198010 June 200423 years, 11 months and 3 days34 years, 2 months and 29 days
Rajya Sabha
(Rajasthan)		5 July 20044 July 20105 years, 11 months and 29 days
Rajya Sabha
(Madhya Pradesh)		24 April 201220 August 20164 years, 3 months and 27 days
31 S. S. Ahluwalia
(b. 1951)		 SS Ahluwalia, BJP.jpg   INC (1986–2000)
  BJP (2000–2024)		Rajya Sabha
(Bihar)		17 July 19867 July 199811 years, 11 months and 20 days33 years, 11 months and 6 days
Rajya Sabha
(Bihar 2000; Jharkhand 2000–2012)		17 April 20002 April 201211 years, 11 months and 16 days
Lok Sabha
(Darjeeling 2014–2019; Bardhaman–Durgapur 2019–2024)		5 June 20145 June 202410 years
32 N. K. P. Salve
(1921–2012)		 No image available.svg   INC (1967–1969, 1978–2002)
  INC (R) (1969–1978)		Lok Sabha
(Betul)		16 March 196718 January 19779 years, 10 months and 2 days33 years, 9 months and 11 days
Rajya Sabha
(Maharashtra)		24 April 19782 April 200223 years, 11 months and 9 days
33 N. G. Ranga
(1900–1995)		 NG Ranga 2001 stamp of India.jpg   INC (1950–1951, 1957–1959, 1980–1991)
HSPP (1951)
  KLP (1951–1957)
  SWA (1959–1970)
  INC (R) (1977–1978)		Provisional Parliament (1950–1952)
Rajya Sabha (from 1952)
(Madras)		28 January 195016 March 1957 [c] 7 years, 1 month and 16 days33 years, 8 months and 19 days
Lok Sabha
(Tenali)		10 May 195731 March 19624 years, 10 months and 21 days
Lok Sabha
(Chittoor)		4 September 19623 March 19674 years, 5 months and 27 days
Lok Sabha
(Srikakulam)		22 May 196727 December 19703 years, 7 months and 5 days
Rajya Sabha
(Andhra Pradesh)		19 July 19778 January 1980 [c] 2 years, 5 months and 20 days
Lok Sabha
(Guntur)		21 January 198013 March 199111 years, 1 month and 20 days
34 P. Chidambaram
(b. 1945)		 P.Chidambaram in a press conference.jpg   INC (1985–1996, 2004–present)
  TMC(M) (1996–2001)		Lok Sabha
(Sivaganga)		15 January 198526 April 199914 years, 3 months and 11 days33 years, 3 months and 26 days [h]
2 June 200418 May 20149 years, 11 months and 16 days
Rajya Sabha
(Maharashtra)		18 July 201616 June 20225 years, 10 months and 29 days
Rajya Sabha
(Tamil Nadu)		18 July 2022present3 years and 2 months

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Listed dates cover the period the respective individual held party membership during their parliamentary service, not necessarily when the member joined or left their party.
  2. ↑ For uninterrupted tenures, listed chronologically when the MP represented more than one constituency or state during that period.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Resigned upon election to Lok Sabha.
  4. ↑ Resigned due to Hawala scandal. [5]
  5. ↑ Ceased to hold seat upon assuming office as President, per Clause 1, Article 59 of the Constitution. [6]
  6. ↑ Lost by-election.
  7. ↑ Resigned
  8. ↑ As of 17 September 2025

References

  1. ↑ "Lok Sabha (House of the People): List of Members". Digital Sansad. Parliament of India. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  2. ↑ "Rajya Sabha (Council of States): List of Members". Digital Sansad. Parliament of India. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  3. ↑ "Lok Sabha Digital Library". Digital Sansad. Parliament of India. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  4. ↑ "Official Debates of Rajya Sabha". Digital Sansad. Parliament of India. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  5. ↑ Preston, Ian; Rowe, Annamarie, eds. (2005). A Political Chronology of Central, South and East Asia (1st ed.). London: Europa Publications Ltd. p. 112. ISBN   0-203-40308-8.
  6. ↑ "Resignation and Vacation of Seat by Members" (PDF). Lok Sabha Debates. Lok Sabha Secretariat. 8 August 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
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