Chapter -4

ELECTORAL POLITICS

Ques. 1 What makes an election democratic?

Ans. 1 The conditions of a democratic election are:

1. Everyone should be able to choose. This means that every one should have one vote and every vote should have one value.

2. There should be something to choose from .Parties and candidates should be free to contest elections and should offer some real choice to the voters.-- Multiparty system.

3. The choice should be offered at regular intervals. Elections must be held regularly after every few years.

4. The candidate preferred by the people should get elected.

5. The elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner where people can choose as they really wish.

6. There should be an independent Election Comission in the country.

7. Just before elections any party or minister must not take any important decision,must not make any big promise to the people.

Ques. 2. Why do we need elections?

Ans. 2 In a democracy it is not possible for everyone to sit together everyday and take all the decisions,so the people choose representatives. Also there is no other democratic way of selecting representatives except elections. Therefore we need to conduct elections in democracies. In an election the voters can: 1. Choose who will make laws for them. 2. Choose who will form the government and take major decisions. 3. Choose the party whose policies will guide the government and law making. Through elections, people can also remove leaders who do not work for them.

Ques. 3 What is an election?

And. 3 The mechanism by which people can choose their representatives at regular intervals and change them if they wish to do so to is called an election.

Ques. 4 What unfair practices are used in elections?

Ans. 4 Some unfair practices used in elections are: 1. Inclusion of false names and exclusion of genuine names in the voters list. 2. Misuse of government facilities and officials by the ruling party. 3. Excessive use of money by rich candidates and big parties. 4. Intimidation of voters and rigging on the polling day.

Ques. 5 What are the demerits of political competition?

Ans. The demerits of political competition are: 1. It creates a sense of disunity and factionalism in every locality. 2. Different political parties and leaders often level allegations against one another. 3. Parties and candidates often use dirty tricks to win election. 4. The pressure to win electoral fights does not allow sensible long term policies to be formulated. 5. Some good people who may wish to serve the country do not enter this arena. They do not like the idea of being dragged into unhealthy competition.

Ques 6 What is the difference between a reserved and an electoral constituency?

Ans.  The country is divided into different areas for purpose of· elections known as electoral constituencies. The voters who live in an area elect one representative.  Reserved constituencies are reserved for people who belong to· the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). In a SC reserved constituency only someone who belongs to the Scheduled castes can stand for election

Ques. 7 What are the challenges to free and fair elections?

Ans. There are many limitations and challenges to Indian elections These include: 1. Candidates and parties with a lot of money may not be sure of their victory but they do enjoy a big and unfair advantage over small parties and independent candidates. 2. In some parts of the country, candidates with criminal connection have been able to push others out of the electoral race and to secure a ‘ticket’ from major parties. 3. Some families tend to dominate political parties, tickets are distributed to relatives from these families. 4. Very often elections offer little choices to ordinary citizens,for both the major parties are quite similar to each other both in policies and practice. 5. Smaller parties and independent candidates suffer a huge disadvantage compared to bigger parties.

 Ques. 8 Explain the following terms:

(a) Rigging-. Fraud malpractices indulged by a party or candidate to increase its votes is called Rigging. It includes stuffing ballot boxes by a few persons using the votes of others, recording multiple votes by the same person; and bringing or coercing polling officers to favour a candidate.

(b) Turnout -Turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast their votes in an election.

 © EPIC Ans. The government has introduced an Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) and tried to give this card to every person on the voters list. The voters are required to carry this card when they go out to vote, so that no one can vote for someone else but the card it not yet compulsory for voting.

(d) Ticket Ans. Political parties nominate their candidates who get the party symbol and support for contesting elections. Party’s nomination is often called party ‘ticket’.

(e) Security Deposit Ans. Every person who wishes to contest an election has to fill a nomination form and give some money called Security deposit.

(f) EVM Ans. Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) are used to record votes nowadays. The machine shows the names of the candidates and party symbols. Independent candidates too have their own symbols, allotted by election officials. All the voter has to do is to press the button against the name of the candidate she wants to give her vote.

Ques. 9 Why do the poor, illiterate and underprivileged people vote in larger proportion as compared to the rich?.

Ans. The poor, illiterate and underprivileged people vote in larger proportion as compared to the rich because they want laws to be made to improve their conditions .They are hopeful that their representatives will do something for them.

Ques. 10 Mention a few successful slogans by different political parties in different elections.

Ans. 1. “Garibi Hatao” (Remove poverty) was used by the Congress party led by Indira Gandhi in the Lok Sabha elections in 1971. 2. “Save Democracy “was given by the Janata Party in the next Lok Sabha elections held in 1977. 3. “Land to the Tiller” was used by the Left Front in the West Bengal Assembly elections held in 1977. 4. “Protect the Self- Respect of the Telugus” was the slogan used by N.T. Rama Rao, the leader of the Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections in 1983.

Ques. 11 Explain the Model Code of Conduct for election campaigns.

Ans. 11 A set of norms and guide lines to be followed by political parties and contesting candidates during election time. According to this no party or candidate can.- 1. Use any place of worship for election propaganda. 2. Use government vehicles, aircrafts and officials for elections. 3. Once elections are annoucned, ministers shall not lay foundation stones of any projects, take any big policy decisions or make any promises of providing public facilities.

Ques. 12 What are the powers and functions of Election Commission of India?

Ans. 12 The powers are:  Even if the ruling party or the govt. does not like what EC does· it is virtually impossible for it to remove the CEC.  During the election period, the EC can order the government to

· follow some guidelines to prevent use and misuse of govt. power to enhance its chances to win elections, or to transfer some government officials. The functions are:  EC takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of

· elections from the announcement of elections to the declaration of results.  It implements the code of conduct and punishes any candidate or

· party that violates it.  When on election duty, government officers work under the

· control of the EC and not the government.

Ques. 13 Discuss the various kinds of elections held in India.

Ans. 13 The Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha (Assembly) elections are held regularly after every five years. Elections are held in all constituencies at the same time, either on the same day or within a few days – General elections. (i) For Lok Sabha elections, the country is divided into 543 constituencies. The representative elected from each constituency is called a Member of Parliament or an MP. (ii) For Vidhan Sabha elections, the elected representative is called the Member of Legislative Assembly or an MLA. Each Parliament constituency has within it several assembly constituencies.  Sometimes election is held only for one constituency to fill the· vacancy caused by death or resignation of a member. This is called by – election.  For Panchayat and Municipal village / town is divided into several· words (like constituencies) each electing one member.

Ques 14. Mention any four laws made by Election Commission with regard to election campaign.

Ans. According to our election law no party or candidate can. 1. Bribe or threaten voters. 2. Appeal to them in the name of caste or religion. 3. Use government resources for election campaigns. 4. Spend more than 25 lakh in a constituency for a Lok Sabha election or Rs. 10 lakh in a constituency in an Assembly elections.

Ques. 15 Discuss the election process.

Ans. The election process is as follows:

 (a) ELECTORAL CONSTITUENCY:- The country is divided into 543 areas for purpose of elections. The voters who live in an area elect one representative.

(b) VOTER’S LIST - The list of those who are eligible to vote in elections is prepared. An Election Photo Identity Card is given to every person whose name is on the voter’s list.

 (c) NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES - Political parties nominate their candidates who get the party symbol and support. The candidate then has to fill a nomination form and give some money as security deposit. He has to make a legal declaration of criminal cases against them, details of assets and educational qualifications.

 (d) ELECTION CAMPAIGN – It takes place for a two - week period between the announcement of the final list of candidate and the date of polling. During this period the candidates contact their voters. Political leaders address election meetings and political parties mobilize their supporters.

(e) POLLING: Every person whose name is on the voter’s list can go to a nearby polling both. Once the voter goes inside the booth, election officials identify her to cast her vote.

(f) COUNTING OF VOTES- Once polling is over, all the EVMs are sealed and taken to a secure place. A few days later, on a fixed date, all the EVMs from a constituency are opened and the votes secured by each candidate who secures the highest number of votes is declared elected.

Ques. 16 What makes Election Commission an Independent body?

Ans. 16 - In our country, elections are conducted by an independent and very powerful Election Commission (EC). It enjoys the same kind of independence that the judiciary enjoys. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is appointed by the President of India. But once appointed, he is not answerable to the President or the Government. Even if the ruling party or the government does not like what the Commission does, it is virtually impossible for it to remove the CEC.