ELECTORAL POLITICS

 KEY WORDS

Election- A formal and orgainized choice by vote of a person for a  political office or other position.

Constituency- A group of voters in a specified are who elect a repersentative to a legislative body.

Election commission - It have power to overseeing the implementation of election procedures.

Code of conduct-Some set of rules outlining the social norms and rules and responsibilities of or proper practices for an individual, party or organization.

Nomination- It is part of the process of selecting a candidate for either election to an office or the bestowing of an honor and award.

Reserved constituencies- Those constituencies in which seats are reserved for SC's and ST's on the basis of their population.

Rigging- Fraud , malpractices and booth Capturing in dulged by a party or candidates.

Turnout-The percentage of eligible voters who cast their votes in an election is termed as turn out.

3.1 Assembly Election in Haryana

State Assembly election held in Haryana in 1987. Bansilal  was the Chief Minister of Haryana. 

Since 1982 the state has been ruled by a Congress party led government.

Chaudhary Devi lal Who was then the Opposition leader.

Chaudhary Devi Lal called Nayaya Yudh(Struggle for Justice).

Chaudhary Devi Lal formed a new party Lok Dal.

In the election Compaign Devi Lal said that if our party won the election-

1)His government would immediatly waive the loan of farmers and small businessmen.

2)It is our first action that his government would take.

The people were not happy with the existing government.

Lok Dal and his allies won 76 out of 90.

Lok dal had alone won 60 seats.

Congress won only 5 seats in Assembly  election.

Devi lal led government fulfilled the promise made during the election compaign by issuing a government.

In the next Assembly  election held in 1991. In this election Lok Dal failed to win popular support.

Congress party again won the election and formed  the government.

Question-Define the term Election. What choices are given to a voter during elections?

Answer-Election-A formal and orgainized choice by vote of a person for a  political office or other position.

In an election a number of choices are made by the voters-

1)They can elect who will make laws for them.

2)They can elect who will form the government and take major decisions.

3)They can elect the party whose policies will guide the government and law making.

Question-What makes an election democratic?

Answer- 1)Everyone should be able to select, it means everyone is entitled to have one vote and every vote should have equal value.

2) There must be something to choose it means parties and candidates are required to be free to contest elections.

3)The choice must be offered at regular intervals, it means election must be held regulary often every few years.

4) The candidates preferred by the people , must  get elected.

5) Election must be conducted in a free and fair manner.

Question-What are the merits of an electoral   competition?

1)All political leader know what is good for the people and leaders motivated only by a desire to serve them.

2)Free and fair political competition in election as the way to select or future leader because this system  works better in the long run.

3)Political leaders are motivated by a desire to advance in their political careers. They want to remain power and position for themselves for which they can compare with other political parties.

Question- What are the demerits of electoral competition?

Answer-1)An electoral competition creates a sense of diunity of the country.

2)Different political parties and leaders often level allegations against one another.

3)Parties and candidates often use dirty tricks to win election.

3.2 What is our system of  Elections?

Question-How are elections held in India?

Answer-1.Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha election held regularly i.e. every 5 years.

2.The Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha can disolved.

3.Elections are held in all constituencies at the same time either on the same day or within a few days. This is called a general election.

4.Some times, elections are held only for one or few constituency to fill the vacancy caused by the death or resignation of a member, it is called By-Election.

5. The term of all the elected representatives comes to an end after 5 years.

Question-What is Electoral Constituencies?

Answer- The country is divided into different areas for purposes of elections. These areas are called electoral constituencies.

Question- How was the system of reserved constituencies introduced for the SC's and ST's?

Answer-Reserved Constituencies- Some constituencies are reserved for peoples who belong to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled tribes.

In a SC reserved constituency only those who belongs to the Scheduled Castes can fight for election.

In a ST reserved constituency only those who belongs to the Scheduled Tr es can fight for election.

System of reservation was extended to other weaker sections at the district and local level.

In many states, seats are now reserved for other Backward Classes(OBC's) as well in rural and urban local bodies for women candidates.

State of Bihar give reservation for the local bodies in 50% for women.

Total Lok Sabha constituencies is 543.

General seats in Lok Sabha is 412.

Reserved seats in Lok Sabha(SC's) is 84

Reserved seats in Lok Sabha(ST's) is 47

Question-What is the Voter List?

Answer-In a democratic election, the list of those who are eligible to vote is prepared much before the election and available to everyone.

This list is officially called the Electoral Roll and is commonly known as a voters list.

This is an important step as it is linked to the first condition.

Question- What do you know about Voter's ID Card?

Answer- In the last few years a new system of Election Photo Identity Card(CPIC) has been introduced.

The Voters are required to carry this card when they go out to vote, so no one can vote for someone else.

Voter list prepared by the election Commission.

Question- How does a party file a nominatition for its Candidate?

Answer-In order to be candidate, the minimum age is 25 for the MP of Lok Sabha and MLA of Legislative Assembly.

Party's nomination is often called party ticket.

Political parties nominate their candidates who get the party symbol and support.

Every person who wishes to contest an election has to fill a nomination form and give some money as security deposit.

If the information is in correct the nomination can be can be cancelled and security deposit is returned.

So, at the time of nomination the candidate give correct information.

Declaration of Candidates

Any serious criminal cases pending against the candidates.

Detail of the assets and liabilites possessed by the candidate and his or her family.

Educational qualification of the candidate.

Question- How is election campaigning done for elections held in  India.

Answer-In India election campaign are made for two week period between the announcement of the final list of candidates and the date of polling.

Candidates   utilize this period in contacting their voters.

During this period, election meeting are addressed by the political leaders and political parties.

Political parties try to concentrate and focus public attention.

Some Successful Slogan

1. Garibi Hatao- In the Lok Sabha election of 1971  the congress leader Indira Gandhi gave slogan Garibi Hatao(Remove Proverty)

2. Save Democracy- In 1977 Lok Sabha election Janta Party gave the slogan Save Democracy.

3.Land for Tiller- In west Bengal Assembly election left front gave a slogan Land to the Tiller.

4.Protect the Self Respect of the Telugus- This slogan given by N.T. Rama Roa the leader of Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh Assembly election 1983.

Election Laws

1.Donot threaten the voters.

2.Donot appeal to them in the name of caste or religion.

3. Donot use resources of government for election campaign.

4.Donot  spend more than 25 lakhs in a Lok Sabha constituency election.

5. Donot spend more than 10 lakhs in a MLA election.

POLLING OF VOTES

1. The day when voters cast or poll their vote is the final stage of an election . That day is called election day.

2.Every person whose name appears on the voters list can go to a nearby polling booth and cast the vote.

3.He /She identified by the election officers.

4.An agent of each candidate is allowed to sit inside the polling booth to ensure that the voting takes place in a fair way.

5. Each voter has to press the button on the electronic voting Machines in our favourable candidate.

COUNTING OF VOTES

1.Once the polling is over all the EVM are sealed and taken to secure place.

2. A few days later on fixed date all the EVM's from a constituency are opened and the votes to be counted.

3.The agents of all candidates are present there.

4.The candidates who get highest number of votes from a constituency is declared elected.

5. Finaly the Election Commission declared who won the election and who from a new government.

6. This events also reported by TV Channels, Radio and newspapers.

3.3 WHAT MAKES ELECTIONS IN INDIA DEMOCRATIC?

Question- Define the term Election Commission. Write the role of Election Commission.

ELECTION COMMISSION

It have power to overseeing the implementation of election procedures.

ROLE OF ELECTION COMMISSION

1.On every aspect of conduct and control of elections from the announcement of elections to the declaration of results it is the Election Commission which takes decision.

2.The code of conduct is implemented by it . It also punishes any candidate or party that violates it.

3. During the election period , the Election Commission can order the government to follow  some guidelines to prevent and misuse of governmental power to enhance its win elections or to trasfer some government officials.

4. When on election duty, the officers of the government work under the control of the Election Commission and not the government.

Question-How can we check the quality of the election process?

Answer- The quality of an election process can be checked in three ways-

1.Who conducts the election-Indian election are conducted by an independent Election commission. Which has the power to even reprim and the government and the adminstration for their lapses.

2.Popular participation- Ift the election process is not free and fair, people donot participate in the electoral process. So, the turn out of the election is also a way to check the quality of the election process.

3.Acceptance of the outcome- If the election is not free and fair, the outcome always favour the powerful and the losing party does not accept the outcome ,So to assess the quality of election process, one can check the response of the losing party.

Challenges to free and fair election.

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 smaller parties and independents.

2.Some parts of the country candidates with criminal connection have been able to secure a ticket from major parties by pushing genuine aspirants out of the electoral.

3. Some political parties have the dominance of particular families. Tickets are distributed to relatives from these families.

4. Very often elections offer little choice to ordinary citizen , for both the major parties are quite similar to each other both in policies and practice.

5. These is a huge disadvange suffered by smaller parties and independent candidates as compared to bigger parties.

PREPARED BY

DR. SANTOSH ANAND MISHRA

D. A. V. PUBLIC SCHOOL 

MANPUR 

GAYA