Question

explain the process of elections in India???​

Answer 1

Answer:

1. Formation of Constituencies:

The Constitution lays down that after the completion of each census the allocation of seats in the Lok Sabha to States shall be readjusted. Similarly, the constituencies for elections to the legislative assemblies are also readjusted.

However, 42nd Amendment Act (1976) provided that until the figures for the first census after the year 2000 have been published, it shall not be necessary to readjust the allocation of seats to the States in the Lok Sabha.

2. Filling of Nominations:

The nomination of candidates is an important part of the election process. The regulations require that the candidate or the person who proposes his name files the nomination papers with the Returning Officer. In order to be chosen a member of the Rajya Sabha or the State Legislative Council, a person must be not less than 30 years of age.

For election to the Lok sabha or the State Legislative Assembly, a person should have attained an age of 25 years. A person is disqualified for being chosen as a member of any House, (i) if he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or of any State (The offices of Ministers or Deputy Ministers are not regarded as offices of profit for this purpose); (ii) if he is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court; (iii) if he is an un-discharged insolvent; (iv) if he has ceased to be a citizen of India; and (v) if he is so disqualified under any law made by Parliament.

The Representation of the People act, as amended from time to time disqualifies a person from the membership of a Legislature:

(i) if he has been found guilty of certain election offences or corrupt practices in election; (ii) if he has been convicted and sentenced to transportation or to imprisonment for not less than two years; and (iii) if he has been dismissed from government service for corruption or disloyalty to the State.

In 1988 many other offences, such as cruelty towards women, were in­cluded among those which would cause disqualification for standing for election. But none of these disqualifications operates for a period of more than six years from the date of such conviction.

3. Scrutiny of Nominations:

The Returning Officer scrutinizes the nomination papers very carefully. When someone is dissatisfied, he is officially stopped from contesting election for six years. The candidates can withdraw their nomination papers even after they have been found in order.

Every candidate standing for election to the Lok Sabha or to State Legislative Assembly has to make a security deposit of Rs. 10,000 arid Rs. 5,000 respectively. In case the candidate belongs to any of the Scheduled Castes or Tribes, the security deposit is reduced by half.

The security deposit of such candidates as have obtained less than one-sixth of the total number of valid votes polled is forfeited.

4. Election Campaign:

Techniques of election campaign and the tools employed by the parties and the independent candidates are many:

(i) Election Manifesto:

The parties issue their Election Manifestoes. A Manifesto is a Statement of great significance. It is “a formal Statement of the programme and objectives of a political party” It deals with issues such as restructuring of Centre-State relations, guarantees to religious or linguistic minorities, justice and judicial reforms, fiscal reform, economic growth, social justice, problems of the handicapped, health, nutrition, education, defence and world peace. The Mani­festo contains programmes and promises, with a view to attract the largest number of voters.

(ii) Electioneering (Activities and Techniques to Persuade Voters):

The parties and the candi­dates usually make use of these techniques in order to carry their message to the voters (a) public meetings and rallies are organised and processions taken out. The party leaders, espe­cially the crowd pullers, are assigned the task to address public meetings; (b) the street corner meetings are held; (c) the candidates, along with the influential persons of the area, do door-to- door canvassing; (d) new slogans are coined to attract the masses; (e) advertisements are re­leased to the press (the popular daily and weekly newspapers); and (f) the Radio and the Televi­sion are pressed into service to broadcast the speeches and panel-discussions of leaders of various parties.

5. Polling Personnel and the Polling:

The election campaign must be stopped 48 hours before the time when poll concludes on the polling day.

Presiding Officer supervises the whole of the polling process and ensures that all persons working under him adhere to the electoral norms and practices.

The voter records his vote either by placing the seal-mark against the name of the candidate he wants to vote for or by pressing the button of the voting machine.