Electoral Politics

DEMOCRATIC POLITICS
Why Elections?
 Assembly elections in Haryana

 Haryana state assembly elections (1987) Chaudhary Devi Lal

Nyaya Yudh

Devilal was Lok Dal and its

choosen as CM partners won 76/90 Promised to waive off
seats the loans of farmers
 Why do we need election?

 Imagine a democracy without elections.

• Can there be another way to select the representatives? Recall the
chapter -1
• Education or knowledge
Representatives democracy

Would this system be called democratic

and many such questions? Therefore, Elections are considered
Solution essential in our times for any
representative democracy

Election
s
 Why do we need election?

In an election the voters make many choices:

 They can choose who will make laws for

them.
 They can choose who will form the
government and take major decisions.
 They can choose the party whose policies
will guide the government and law making.
 What makes an election Democratic?

Election Held in both democratic and non democratic countries

But what makes an election democratic or undemocratic

Democratic Elections

 First, everyone should be able to choose. This means that everyone should have one vote and
every vote should have equal value.
 Second, 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.
 Third, the choice should be offered at regular intervals. Elections must be held regularly after
every few years.
What makes an election Democratic?

 Fourth, the candidate preferred by the people should get elected.

 Fifth, elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner where
people can choose as they really wish.
 Is it good to have Political Competition?

 Elections Political competition It has some demerits

 It creates a sense of disunity

Were the political
factionalism .
leaders not aware of
it?  Parties level allegations, use dirty tricks.

 No long term policies can be

formulated .
No, they were aware of it, yet they opted
 Good people who may wish to serve the
For free competition in election as the way
country do not enter this arena.
to select our future leaders
 Is it good to have Political
Competition?

Competition

 In an ideal world all political leaders know what is good for the people and are motivated only
by a desire to serve them. Political competition is not necessary in such an ideal world.
But that is not what happens in real life.
 leaders are required to work hard to remain in power or to gain it. Political competition is a
reward for serving and at the same time punishment for not performing the duty.
 political competition may cause divisions and some ugliness, but it finally helps to force
political parties and leaders to serve the people.
What is Our System of Elections?

 Can we say that Indian elections are democratic?

 It depends upon how elections are held in India

Vidhan
Lok Sabha
Sabha

 Sometimes election is held only for one constitutency to fill the vacancy caused by death
or resignation of a member. This is called a by-election
 Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha (Assembly) elections are held regularly after every five years.
After five years the term of all the elected representatives comes to an end. The Lok Sabha
or Vidhan Sabha stands ‘dissolved’. 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.
 Electoral Constituencies

 Area based system of representation

 The country is divided into different areas for purposes of elections

 These areas are called electoral constituencies
 The voter who live in an area elect one representative.

Lok Sabha Vidhan Sabha Panchayat and

Municipal Elections
 Divided into specific
 543 electoral
no. of constituencies
constituencies  Representatives
 Representatives elected
elected Divided into wards
MP  MLA
Reserved Constituencies

 Open electoral competition Weaker section may not stand a good chance to
win.

 Lack of resources, education and contacts.

 Powerful people may prevent them from winning elections.

 Some 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.
 Similarly only those belonging to the Scheduled Tribes can contest an election from a
constituency reserved for ST.
 Reserved Constituencies

 No. of seats reserved in Lok Sabha Reservation for SC and ST

• This system of reservation was extended later to
other weaker sections at the district and local
level.
84 seats 47 seats for
for SC ST • In many states, seats in rural (panchayat) and
urban (municipalities and corporations) local
bodies are now reserved for Other Backward
Classes (OBC) as well. However, the proportion of
As on 26 January 2019 seats reserved varies from state to state.

• one-third of the seats are reserved in rural and

urban local bodies for women candidates.
 Voters List

 Once the constituencies are decided , the next step is to

decide who can and who cannot vote.
 Electoral roll/Voters list: List of the person eligible to vote
 Based on the principle of universal adult franchise (one vote,
one value)
 In our country, all the citizens aged 18 years and above can
vote in an election.
 Some criminals and persons with unsound mind can be denied
the right to vote, but only in rare situations.
• Election photo identity card (EPIC)
• Updation of Voter’s list
 Nomination of Candidates

 Anyone who can be a voter can also become a candidate in elections.

 Only difference is of age

 Voters = 18 years
 Candidate contest election age = 25 years

 There are some other restrictions on criminals etc. but these apply in very extreme cases.
 Political parties nominate their candidates who get the party symbol and support. Party’s
nomination is often called party ‘ticket’.
 Every person who wishes to contest an election has to fill a ‘nomination form’ and give
some money as ‘security deposit’.
 Nomination of Candidates

 Recently, a new system of declaration has been introduced on direction from the Supreme
Court.
 Every candidate has to make a legal declaration, giving full details of :
 Serious criminal cases pending against the candidate;
 Details of the assets and liabilities of the candidate and his or her family; and
 Educational qualifications of the candidate.
This information has to be made public.
 This provides an opportunity to the voters to make their decision on the basis of the information
provided by the candidates.
Why don’t we have any educational qualifications for candidates?
Election Campaign

 It provides perspectives to the people that

who’s policy would be better.
 In our country such campaigns take place
for a two-week period between the
announcement of the final list of
candidates and the date of polling.
What do they do?
• Candiate contact their voters
• Election meetings
• Mobilising the support of supporters
 Election Campaign

Let us look at some of the successful slogans given by different political parties in various
elections.
 Garibi Hatao, Congress 1977
 Save democracy, Janata party, 1977
 Land to the Tiller, 1977
 ‘Protect the Self-Respect of the Telugus’
Election Campaign

 The Congress party led by Indira Gandhi gave the slogan of Garibi
Hatao (Remove poverty) in the Lok Sabha elections of 1971. The
party promised to reorient all the policies of the government to remove
poverty from the country.

 Save Democracy was the slogan given by Janata Party under the
leadership of Jayaprakash Narayan, in the Lok Sabha election held in
1977. The party promised to undo the excesses committed during
Emergency and restore civil liberties.
Election Campaign

 The Left Front used the slogan of Land to the Tiller in the West Bengal
Assembly elections held in1977.

 ‘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.

In a democracy it is best to leave political parties and candidates free to

conduct their election campaigns the way they want to.
Election Campaign

 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:
o Bribe or threaten voters;
o Appeal to them in the name of caste or religion;
o Use government resources for election campaign; and
o Spend more than ` 25 lakh in a constituency for a Lok Sabha
election
or ` 10 lakh in a constituency in an Assembly election.
Election Campaign

 In addition to the laws, all the political parties in our

country have agreed to a Model Code of Conduct for
election campaigns. According to this, no party or
candidate can:
o Use any place of worship for election propaganda;
o Use government vehicles, aircrafts and officials for
elections; and
o 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.
 Polling and counting of votes

 The final stage of an election is the day when the voters

cast or ‘poll’ their vote. That day is usually called the
election day.
 Every person whose name is on the voters’ list can go
toa nearby ‘polling booth’, situated usually in a local Ballot
school or a government office.
 Once the voter goes inside the booth, the election
officials identify her, put a mark on her finger and allow
her to cast her vote.
 An agent of each candidate is allowed to sit inside the
polling booth and ensure that the voting takes place in
a fair way.
EVM
 Polling and counting of votes

 In a general election, usually the counting of

votes in all the constituencies takes place at the
same time, on the same day.
 Television channels, radio and newspapers report
this event. Within a few hours of counting, all the
results are declared and it becomes clear as to
who will form the next government.
WHAT MAKES ELECTIONS IN INDIA
DEMOCRATIC?

Election Unfair practices in election

 Inclusion of false names and exclusion of genuine names in the voters’ list;
 Misuse of government facilities and officials by the ruling party;
 Excessive use of money by rich candidates and big parties; and
 Intimidation of voters and rigging on the polling day.

 Many of these reports are correct. We feel unhappy when we read or see such reports. But
fortunately they are not on such a scale so as to defeat the very purpose of elections. This
becomes clear if we ask a basic question: Can a party win an election and come to power not
because it has popular support but through electoral malpractices?
 Independent Election Commission

 Whether election are democratic or not depends on who conducts the election?

• It enjoys the same kind of independence that

the judiciary enjoys.
• The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) I
appointed by the President of India. But once
appointed, not answerable to the President or
the government.
• Virtually impossible to remove CEC

Sushil Chandra
 Independent Election Commission

 Very few election commissions in the world have such wide-ranging powers as the Election
Commission of India.
Powers of Election Commission:
 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.
 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.
 When on election duty, government officers work under the control of the EC and not the
government.
 Popular participation

 Another way to check the quality of the election process is to see whether people participate
in it with enthusiasm. If the election process is not free or fair, people will not continue to
participate in the exercise.
Popular participation
 Popular participation

Voters turnout figures People’s Participation

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

People’s participation in election is

usually measured by voter turnout
figures. Turnout indicates the per cent of
eligible voters who actually cast their
vote. Over the
last fifty years, the turnout in Europe and
North America has declined. In India the
turnout has either remained stable or
actually gone up.
 Popular participation

 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.
 For example in the United States of America,
poor people, African Americans and Hispanics
vote much less than the rich and the white
people.
 Popular participation

 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. They also feel
that their vote matters in the way
things are run in the country.
 Popular participation

 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
activities. 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.
 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 state
level. In fact in every two out of the three elections held in the last 25 years, the
ruling party lost.
 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.
 Candidates who are known to have spent a lot of money on ‘buying votes’ and
those with known criminal connections often lose elections.
 Barring very few disputed elections, the electoral outcomes are usually accepted as
‘people’s verdict’ by the defeated party.
 Challenges to free and fair elections

Limitations and challenges of Indian elections are:

 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.
 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.
 Some families tend to dominate political parties; tickets are distributed to
relatives from these families.
 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.
 Smaller parties and independent candidates suffer a huge disadvantage
compared to bigger parties.
 Questions and Answers

1. Which of the following statements about the reasons for conducting elections are
false?
a Elections enable people to judge the performance of the government.
b People select the representative of their choice in an election.
c Elections enable people to evaluate the performance of the judiciary.
d People can indicate which policies they prefer.
Ans. c Elections enable people to evaluate the performance of the judiciary.
Questions and Answers

2. Which of these is not a good reason to say that Indian elections

are democratic?
a India has the largest number of voters in the world.
b India’s Election Commission is very powerful.
c In India, everyone above the age of 18 has a right to vote.
d In India, the losing parties accept the electoral verdict.
Ans. a India has the largest number of voters in the world.
Questions and Answers
Questions and Answers
 Questions and Answers

4. List all the different election related activities mentioned in the chapter and arrange
them in a time sequence, beginning with the first activity and ending with the last. Some
of these activities are given below: releasing election manifestos; counting of votes;
making of voters’ list; election campaign; declaration of election results; casting of votes;
ordering of re-poll; announcing election schedule; filing nomination.
Ans: Making of voters’ list → Announcing election schedule → Releasing election
manifesto → Election campaign → Filing nomination → Casting of votes →
Ordering of re- poll → Counting of votes → Declaration of election results.
 Questions and Answers

5. Surekha is an officer in-charge of ensuring free and fair elections in an assembly constituency in a state. Describe
what should she focus on for each of the following stages of election:
a Election campaign
b Polling day
c Counting day
a. Election campaign
Ans: Surekha needs to focus on various duties such as, ensuring that candidates do not give bribe or
threaten voters, excess amount of money is not crossed by a candidate in terms of expenditure,
candidates do not appeal for a vote based on the religion or caste, they do not use worship place for
campaign or use any government resources.
b. Polling day
Ans: She will have to cross check the voters’ list and check ID proof of the voters; booth capturing
does not take place. Ensuring that Free and fair election should be conducted.
c. Counting day
Ans: She will have to look, whether the counting is done, representatives of all parties are present at
 Questions and Answers

6. The table below gives the proportion of Ans: According to the percentage in the
different communities among the candidates US population, Blacks and Hispanics
who won elections to the US Congress. Compare needs be given reservation into the US
these to the proportion of these communities in Congress. The Blacks are having a
the population of the US. lesser number of states, that is, 8% in
Based on this, would you suggest a system of the House of representatives compared
reservations in the US Congress? If yes, why and to their population, that is 13%.
for which communities? If no, why not? Hispanics need reservation more
because the number of their members
in the House of Representatives is less
than 5% compared to their population,
that is, 13.3%. Whites do not need any
reservation since they have more seats,
that is, 86% in the House of
representative compared to their
population, that is 70%.
 Questions and Answers

7. Can we draw the following conclusions from the information given in this chapter? Give
two facts to support your position for each of these.
a Election Commission of India does not have enough powers to conduct free and fair
elections in the country.
b There is a high level of popular participation in the elections in our country.
c It is very easy for the party in power to win an election.
d Many reforms are needed to make our elections completely free and fair.
Questions and Answers

a. The Election Commission of India does not have enough powers to conduct free
and fair elections in the country.
Ans: The Election Commission of India is powerful enough to conduct free and fair elections:
 It punishes any candidate or party that violates the code of conduct.
 In Elections, Government officials work under the Election Commission and not the
government.
Questions and Answers

b. There is a high level of popular participation in the elections in

our country.
Ans: There is a high level of popular participation in the elections:
 Voters have significantly raised over the past few years.
 Activities related to election over the past years have seen a greater
amount of participation from the people.
 Questions and Answers

c. It is very easy for the party in power to win an election.

Ans: It is certainly not very easy for any party which is in power to win an election:
 The partie which is currently ruling, loses elections routinely.
 Candidates who are ready to spend a greater amount of money lose elections.

d. Many reforms are needed to make our elections completely free and fair.
 Ans: Reforms are necessary in order to make our elections free and fair completely:
 To make sure that independent and small parties don't suffer in elections.
 To make sure that candidates that are having criminal records do not apply in election.
Questions and Answers

8. Chinappa was convicted for torturing his wife for dowry. Satbir was held
guilty of practicing untouchability. The court did not allow either of them to
contest elections.
Does this decision go against the principles of democratic elections?

Ans: A person who is convicted for a crime by the court, has no

right to be a part of the society, hence they have no right to
participate in the election. No, this decision will not go against the
principles of democratic elections.
 Questions and Answers

9. Here are some reports of electoral malpractices from different parts of the world. Is
there anything that these countries can learn from India to improve their elections?
What would you suggest in each case?
a. During an election in Nigeria, the officer in charge of counting votes deliberately
increased the votes of one candidate and declared him elected. The court later found
out that more than five lakh votes cast for one candidate were counted in favour of
another.
Ans: Here, representatives of each and every candidate should be present
to make sure that the votes are counted in a fair way.
 Questions and Answers

b. Just before elections in Fiji, a pamphlet was distributed warning voters that a vote for
former Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry will lead to bloodshed. This was a threat to
voters of Indian origin.
Ans: The election commission should set up an enquiry into the case and
discontinue the candidate or party involved in distributing such pamphlets.
c. In the US, each state has its own method of voting, its own procedure of counting and its
own authority for conducting elections. Authorities in the state of Florida took many
controversial decisions that favoured Mr. Bush in the presidential elections in 2000. But no
one could change those decisions.
Ans: There should be only one election commission which should be free from
political pressure and it needs to be responsible for conducting any kind of
elections in the nation.
 Questions and Answers

10. Here are some reports of malpractices in Indian elections. Identify what the problem in
each case is. What should be done to correct the situation?
a. Following the announcement of elections, the minister promised to provide financial aid
to reopen the closed sugar mill.
Ans: After the announcement of the election, it is illegal to announce policy
decisions according to the Code of Conduct. The minister should be taken to
task by the Election Commission.
b. Opposition parties alleged that their statements and campaign was not given due
attention in Door darshan and All India Radio.
Ans: The election commission should ensure that all political parties are given
equal opportunity to appear on Door-darshan and All India Radio. The Election
Commission ensures to take action against the misuse of this media.
Questions and Answers

c. An inquiry by the Election Commission showed that electoral rolls of a state contain
the names of 20 lakh fake voters.
Ans: The presence of the fake voters means that the elections were already
pre-planned by the authorities who prepared the electoral rolls. The
election commission must supervise the preparation of fresh electoral rolls.
d. The hoodlums of a political party were moving with guns, physically preventing
supporters of other political parties to meet the voters and attacking meetings of
other parties.
Ans: By using hoodlums, the political party is trying to terrorize its rivals.
The election commission should order for arrest of the hoodlums and debar
the party from the elections.
 Questions and Answers

11. Ramesh was not in class when this chapter was being taught. He came the next day
and repeated what he had heard from his father. Can you tell Ramesh what is wrong with
these statements?
a. Women always vote the way men tell them to. So, what is the point of giving them the
right to vote?
Ans: This statement is false, since the policy of secret ballot makes sure that
an individual can vote for whoever he/she wants. Women are fully capable of
taking their own decisions and selecting the candidate they like.
b. Party politics creates tension in society. Elections should be decided by consensus not
by competition.
 Ans: Competition can work as both a deterrent and motivator for the
political candidates. A risk and fear of losing the election and a motivation
for winning the elections works in favour of people.
 Questions and Answers

c. Only graduates should be allowed to stand as candidates for elections.

Ans: Educational qualification is not necessary and required to

understand the people’s needs. Therefore, there is no need for
politicians to complete their graduation.
Questions and Answers