explain any five salient features of the election system in India
Answers
Some of the salient features of the Indian electoral system are as follows:
(i) India has been divided into single member territorial constituencies.
(ii) Constituencies are delimited with the help of a Delimitation Commission which is appointed after the census that takes place after every ten years. The result of the revision of constituencies is that the areas change from election to election. For example, some part of West Delhi became part of South Delhi Constituency in 1980 election.
(iii) There was a practice that the election for the Parliament and State Assemblies were held simultaneously. There used to be one general election. However, in 1971, elections to the Parliament were delinked from elections to the State Assemblies. The change had tremendous effect.
This has changed the voting behaviour of the people. Earlier the voting behaviour used to be the same at the Centre and the State. It is not necessary for the people to have the same voting behaviour in the State Assembly election as it was at the time of general election of Parliament.
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(iv) Unlike U.S.A., in India any one nominated by the political party or even an independent candidate may contest the election. It is true that political parties scrutinize the candidates carefully but not like the system established in U.S.A.
In United States, there is system of double election. Any person who expresses desire to contest the election first, he has to contest election within his own party and then he faces general election.
(v) India has abolished restricted franchise system adopted by the British, such as, property qualifications. India has adopted Universal Adult Franchise System. All citizens of 18 years of age are given right to vote irrespective of any consideration of caste, colour, creed, sex, religion or place of birth.
(vi) Elections are determined on the basis of relative majority of valid votes polled. There is no provision for absolute majority. Sometimes, a candidate who secures even 20% to 30% of the votes is declared elected.
It is described as ‘First past the post system’. The idea is that the horse which reaches the winning post, first of all, is the winner even if he is ahead of the second candidate only by hair-breadth.
(vii) Elected candidates may face election petition as well. The People’s Representation Act prescribes minimum standards. If a candidate has violated any of the prescribed standards, he has to face a petition in the court. If court finds that he has violated any of the rules, he is debarred from remaining the member and contesting election for the next six years.
(viii) Every elected member has to take an oath. They participate in the deliberations. They remain there for the whole of tenure till the House is dissolved. There is no system of recall.
i) India has been divided into single member territorial constituencies.