Q and Ans: Electoral Politics

Chapter 3 Electoral politics

Q Discuss the importance of elections in a democracy.

Answer:

Elections are exceptionally important in a democracy because of the following reasons:

1 Without the elections, a democratic government cannot be set up. It has been rightly said, “ No election, no democracy.”

2 Through elections alone, the people can get rid of their cruel and unpopular government, and in its place, they can elect a new popular government.

3 It is through elections alone that an effective control can be maintained on the executive.

4 All the citizens in a modern democracy cannot run the administration. Only their representatives can do it for them. In order to choose such representatives, the elections are a must.

Q (i) What are elections?

(ii) “Elections are considered essential for any representative democracy.” Why?

(iii) What is a constituency?

Answer:

(i) It is a mechanism by which people can choose their representatives at regular intervals and change them if they wish to do so.

(ii) (a) In a representative democracy, people rule through their representatives. ,

(b) It gives an opportunity to the people to decide who will make laws for them

(iii) For elections, the entire country is divided into fixed electoral areas with a body of registered voters. These areas are called constituencies.

Q. Explain any five conditions for free and fair elections. 

Answer:

 *One vote one value:* Everyone should be able to choose. This means that everyone should have one vote and every vote should have equal value.

 *Multiple choices:* 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.

 *Choice at regular interval:* The choice should be offered at regular intervals. Elections must be held regularly after every few years.

 *All should have equal chance of winning:* The candidate preferred by the people should get elected.

 *Free and fair elections:* Elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner where people can choose as they really wish.

Q What is a reserved constituency? Why is there need for a reserved constituency? 

Answer:

These are the constituencies which 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 contest elections. Similarly only those belonging to the Scheduled Tribes can contest an election from a constituency reserved for ST.

 *Importance of reserved constituencies-* 

 *Political equality for weaker sections* : Our Constitution entitles every citizen to elect her/his representative and to be elected as a representative. The Constitution makers, however, were worried that in an open electoral competition, certain weaker sections may not stand a good chance to get elected to the Lok Sabha and the state Legislative Assemblies. They may not have the required resources, education and contacts to contest and win elections against others. Those who are influential and resourceful may prevent them from winning elections. If that happens, our Parliament and Assemblies would be deprived of the voice of a significant section of our population. That would make our democracy: less representative and less democratic. So, the makers of our Constitution thought of a special system of reserved constituencies for the weaker sections.

 *Gender equality* : Indian society is a male dominating society. So to provide them equal representation one-third of the seats are reserved in rural and urban local bodies for women candidates.

Q What is principle of universal adult franchise? What is its importance?

Answer:

According to universal adult franchise every citizen of India who is 18 years of age or above has the right to vote irrespective of his caste, colour, sex, gender etc.

Importance-:

1 It provides political equality.

2  Through universal adult franchise all are included in decision making. 

3 Different citizens differ from one another in many ways: some are rich, some are poor; some are highly educated, some are not so educated or not educated at all; some are kind, others are not so kind. But all of them are human beings with their own needs and views. That is why all of them deserve to have an equal say in decisions that affect them.

Q What details are required from the candidates who wish to contest elections?

Answer:

The candidates who wish to contest elections have to make a legal declaration, giving full details of:

1 Serious criminal cases pending against the candidate.

2 Details of the assets and liabilities of the candidate and his or her family.

3 Education qualifications of the candidate.

Q Election campaigns are needed to regulate”. Why?

Answer:

It is sometimes necessary to regulate campaigns to ensure that every political party and candidate gets a fair and equal chance to compete.

 *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 campaign.

Spend more than 25 lakh in a constituency for a Lok Sabha election or 10 lakh in a constituency in an assembly election.

Q What are the demerits of an election competition?

Answer:

An electoral competition has many demerits such as.

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 elections.

Q Mention a few successful slogans that were used during election campaigns.

Answer:

The most successful slogans used during election campaigns were:

 *Garibi Hatao or Remove poverty:* This slogan was used by the Congress party led by Indira Gandhi in the Lok Sabha elections of 1971. The party promised to remove poverty from the country.

 *Save Democracy:* This slogan used by Janata Party in the Lok Sabha election held in 1977. The party promised to undo the excesses committed during Emergency and restore civil liberties.

 *Land to the Tiller* : This slogan was used by the Left Front in the West Bengal Assembly elections held in 1977.

 *Protect the Self Respect of the Telugus:* This slogan used by N. T. Rama Rao, the leader of the Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections in 1983.

Q What makes elections in India democratic? Explain.

Answer:

An *Independent Election Commission:* In our country, elections are conducted by an independent and a 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, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) 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.

 *Popular Participation:* In India, the poor, illiterate and underprivileged people vote in larger proportion as compared to the rich and the privileged sections. This is in contrast to western democracies. For example, in the United States of America, poor people, African-Americans and Hispanics vote much less than the rich and the white people.

 *Acceptance of election outcome:* The outcome of India’s elections speaks for itself. The ruling parties routinely lose elections in India, both at the national and the state levels. In fact, in every two out of the three, elections held in the last fifteen years, the ruling party lost the power.

Q Mention any three provisions which makes Election Commission an independent body.

Answer:

1 The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is appointed by the President of India. But once appointed, the Chief Election Commissioner is not answerable to the President or the government.

2 During the election period, the EC can order the government to follow some guidelines, to prevent use and misuse of governmental power to enhance its chances to win elections, or to transfer some government officials.

3 When on election duty, government officers work under the control of the EC and not the government.

Q Explain the role of the Election Commission in free and fair elections. 

Answer:

Functions of the Election Commission of India:

 *Allotment of Election Symbols:* The political parties of national standing are allotted permanent election symbols. These symbols help even an ordinary man to recognise the different parties instantly.

 *Preparation of Electoral Rolls:* Electoral Rolls are prepared in which the name, father’s name, age and sex of the voters are clearly mentioned.

 *Delimitation of Constituencies* : The whole area where elections are held, is divided into so many clear-cut constituencies, so that flections are held in an organised way.

 *Fixing the Election Dates:* The Election date is announced so that the voters could easily cast their votes on that particular date.

 *Scrutiny (careful examination) of Nomination Papers:* The candidates willing to contest the elections have to file the nominations up to a particular date. Then the Election Commission scrutinizes their papers and accepts or rejects the nomination papers as the case: may be.

 *Checking Undue Interference of the *Party-in-Power* :* Important duty of the Election Commission is to see that the party in power does in no way take an advantage over other parties or individuals.

Q What are the changing trends of people’s participation in elections in India?

Answer:

The changing trends of people’s participation in elections in India are as follows:

1 People’s participation in election is usually measured by voter turnout figures. Turnout indicates the per cent of eligible voters who cast their vote. In India, the turnout figures over last few decades have either remained stable or gone up.

2 In India, the poor, illiterate and underprivileged people vote in larger proportion as compared to the rich and privileged sections. This is in contrast to western democracies.

3 Common people in India attach a lot of importance to elections. They feel that through elections, they can bring pressure on political parties to adopt policies and programmes favourable to them.

4 The interest of voters in election-related activities has been increasing over the years. During the 2004 elections, more than one-third voters took part in a campaign-related activity.

More than half of the people identified themselves as being close to one or the other political party. One out of every seven voters is a member of a political party.

Q How can you say that the outcome of elections is a final test of free and fair elections? Explain

Answer:

One final test of the free and fair of election has in the outcome itself. If elections are not free or fair, the outcome always favours the powerful. In such a situation, the ruling parties do not lose elections. Usually, the losing party does not accept the outcome of a rigged election.

The outcome of India’s elections speaks for itself:

1 The ruling parties routinely lose elections in India both at the national and state level. In fact, in every two out of the three elections held in the last fifteen years, the ruling party lost.

2 In the US, an incumbent or ‘sitting’ elected representative rarely loses an election. In India, about half of the sitting MPs or MLAs lose elections.

3 Candidates who are known to have spent a lot of money on ‘buying votes’ and

those with known criminal connections often lose elections.

4 Barring very few disputed elections, the electoral outcomes are usually accepted as ‘people’s verdict’ by the defeated party.

Q What are the challenges to free and fair elections in India?

Answer:

The elections in India are basically free and fair. But, a few candidates may win purely based on money power and unfair means. These challenges exist not just in India but also in many established democracies. These deeper issues are a matter of concern for those who believe in democracy. The challenges to free and fair elections in India are as follows-

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 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 choice 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.