3. What are the qualification to contest in elections?
Answers
Answer:
For contesting in elections as a candidate a person must be registered as a voter. Sec 4 (d) of Representation People Act, 1951 precludes a person from contesting unless he is an elector in any parliamentary constituency. Section 5 (c) of R. P. Act, 1951 has a similar provision for Assembly Constituencies.
Answer:
It is ironic to note that the Indian political system doesn’t prescribe a minimum educational qualification to contest elections in the country. In my opnion, at least a degree in some field must be a mandatory requirement for filing nomination papers.
Conducting a selection test and allotting a ministry or portfolio relevant to their field of degree or higher degree is the need of the hour. An entrance test must be based on economy, political science, law, international affairs and tests based on personality traits, capabilities, intelligence, charisma, foresight and analytical skills should be held for those aspiring to contest elections or join politics.
These positive changes are vital for a country like India for its overall growth. Capable leaders such as former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh Chandrababu Naidu, who holds a masters degree, with his business-savvy and foresightedness boosted Hyderabad city’s infrastructure leading to development.
Corruption, black money and poverty which are ailing country’s development can be effectively tackled by abled political system where prescribing a minimum educational qualification comes in handy. It’s a matter of solace that institutions like Lokpal, Niti Aayog, media and judiciary have a vital role to play in eliminating corruption and ushering in transparency.