KAMAL KRISHNA

​

ELECTORAL POLITICS

What do you mean by Election?

The election is a mechanism in which the people can choose their representatives at regular intervals and change them if they wish to do so. This mechanism is called Election

�Why do we need Election in Democracy?

​

​

• Practically impossible for people to sit together every day and take all the decisions.

​

• Lack of the time and knowledge to take decisions on all matters.

​

​

�Why do we need Election in Democracy?

​

​

• Election provides a mechanism by which people can choose their representatives at regular intervals and change them if they wish to do so.

Which are the choices getting a Voter during the time of Election

1. They can choose who will make laws for them.
2. They can chose who will form the government and take major decisions.
3. They can choose the party whose policies will guide the government and law making.

Features of Democratic Election

1. One Vote & Equal Value

​

• Options to Choose

​

​

3.The Periodic Elections- Elections at the regular interval

​

​

4.Elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner: .

Demerits of Political (Electoral) Competition in India

1. It creates a sense of disunity and factionalism

in every locality.

​

​

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

Merits of Political (Electoral) Competition

1. Provides incentives to political parties and leaders.

​

​

• Popularity and chance of victory in the next election depends on how they keep promises

Merits of Political (Electoral) Competition

​

​

3. Political Parties are forced to serve the people, If they want to win periodic elections

​

​

• Political competition helps to force political parties and leaders to serve people.

Indian Election System

Indian Election are Democratic or Not?

1. Universal Adult Franchise: Every adults must have right to vote “One vote must carry one Value”.

​

​

​

• Electoral Choice: More than one political party should be there

Indian Election are Democratic or Not?

1. Elections at Regular Intervals: There are periodic elections in democracy

​

​

• Free and fair Election: Voters have to cast vote without fear ,greed. & pressure

​

​

​

​

General Election

The Lok Sabha & Assembly Elections held after regular interval of time ( 5 years in India)

General, By and Midterm Election

��By- Election��

The election held only for one constituency to fill the vacancy caused by death or resignation of a member.

The election held after dissolution of Lok Sabha Or State assembly before 5 years of term.

Midterm Election

� Electoral Constituency

The Country is divided into different areas for the purpose of election. These areas are called Electoral Constituencies

​

​

� Electoral Constituency

​

The elected representative is called the Member of Parliament or MP

​

​

​

Each state is divided into a specific number of Assembly Constituencies.

​

The elected representative is called the Member of Legislative Assembly or MLA

​

​

Assembly Constituencies.

​

In the Municipal and Panchayats election, each village or town is divided into several wards like constituencies.

​

� Reserved Constituency?

In India some Constituencies are reserved for people who belong to the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).

​

Scheduled Caste reservation: 79 Seats (84)

Scheduled Tribe Constituency: 41 Seats (47)

�� Voters’ List

​

The list of people eligible to vote is prepared much before the election. This list is officially called the Electoral Roll and is commonly known as the Voter’s List.

EPIC

Election photo id card

The Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) is an identity document issued by the electoral registration officer.

��Nomination of Candidates

• Nomination is part of the process of selecting a candidate for election to a public office.

​

​

• He should be of age 25 years or above

• The political parties nominate their candidates who get the party symbols and support.

​

​

• Party’s nomination is often called- ‘Party Ticket

​

​

​

​

Supreme court’s Direction

1. Serious criminal cases pending against the candidates
2. Details of the assets and liabilities of the candidate and his or her family
3. Educational qualification of the candidate

​

Nominated candidates have to give following legal declarations

Election Campaign

A campaign is any series of actions or events that are meant to achieve a particular result

​

The goal of a political campaign is to put a candidate in office.

Election Campaign

In India, two week period between the announcement of the final list of candidates and the date of polling, is the duration for campaign

​

Election Campaign

The publicity is done through news papers, television channels, election meetings, posters & Personal contact during the campaign

Party and Candidates can’t to do………..

.

1. Bribe or threaten voters.
2. Appeal to them in the name of Caste and Religion
3. Use government resources for election campaign
4. Spend more than 70 lakh in a constituency for Lok Sabha election and 28 lakh in the State

the Parties and Candidates can’t to do…….

Modal code of conduct

​

1. Use any place of worship for election propaganda

​

​

​

• Use government vehicles, aircrafts and officials for elections

the Parties and Candidates can’t to do…….

Modal code of conduct

​

​

3. Once elections are announced, ministers shall not lay foundation stones of any projects, take any big policy decisions or make any promises of providing public facilities

��How we can say Indian Election is free and fair?

1. Independent Election Commission
2. Mass level Popular Participation
3. Acceptance of Election Result
4. Free and Free Election

�Independent Election Commission

​

​

• In India elections are conducted by an independent and powerful autonomous Election Commission.

​

• It is three member constitutional commission including CEC & two ECs

�Independent Election Commission

​

​

​

• The president of India appoints all three members of commission ie. CEC & two Ecs for six years

​

• CEC is chief Election Commissioner

​

• EC is The Election commissioner

​

�Independent Election Commission

​

​

​

• Once appointed the Election commission is not answerable to the president or government.

​

• It enjoys the same kind of independence that the judiciary enjoys

​

��Functions of Election Commission in India

• To conduct and control Election from the announcement of election to the declaration of results

​

• It implements the code of conduct

​

​

��Functions of Election Commission in India

• All the transfer & Postings of Government servants

​

• To give an advice to the President on some certain issues

​

​

Mass Level Popular participation

​

​

• Peoples participation in election is usually measured by voter turnout figures.

​

• Turnout indicates the percentage of eligible voters who actually cast their vote.

​

• In 17^th Lok Sabha elections it was ever highest- 67 %

​

​

​

• In India illiterate, poor and underprivileged people vote in larger portion as compared to rich and privileged section.

​

• In USA the poor, Afro Americans and Hispanics vote much less than the rich and white people.

​

​

​

�Acceptance of Election Result

I

​

​

The outcome of India’s election speaks it self

​

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

​

​

Free and Fair Election

• Indian election are basically free and fair with few exceptions

​

Challenges of free and fair election in India

​

​

1. Money

​

• Muscle

​

• Dominance of few political families

​

• Almost similar policies and agenda of different political parties

Thank you