How has the process of elections changed over time? Identify any five differences between the first ever elections and the latest elections held in India.
Answers
Answer:
India is a federation with a parliamentary system governed under the Constitution of India, which defines the power distribution among the central government and the states.
The President of India is the ceremonial head of the country and supreme commander-in-chief for all defence forces in India. [1]
However, it is the Prime Minister of India, who is the leader of the party or political alliance having a majority in the country wide elections to the Lok Sabha that exercises most executive powers for matters that require country wide powers under a federal system.
India is regionally divided into States and each State has a Chief Minister who is the leader of the party or political alliance having won majority in the regional elections otherwise known as State Assembly Elections that exercises executive powers in that State. The respective State's Chief Minister has executive powers within the State and works jointly with the Prime Minister of India or his ministers on matters that require both State and Central attention.
The President of India, monitors the rule of law through his appointed governors in each State and on their recommendation can take over the executive powers from the Chief Minister of the State, temporarily when the elected representatives of the State government has failed to create a peaceful environment and has deteriorated into chaos. The President of India dissolves the existing State government if necessary, and a new election is conducted.
Hope it helps..
Answer:
At the time of the first Lok Sabha election in 1951-52, 85 per cent of the people were illiterate. In the population of about 40 crore, only 15 per cent knew how to read and write in one language. Printing names of the candidates and the parties contesting election could not have elicited the preferred voting choice for the voters.
Explanation:
Preparing an electoral roll was a daunting task, which was made tougher due to certain social practices. The Election Commission had to recruit 16,500 clerks for six months to prepare electoral rolls.
India had witnessed election during British rule also but the franchise was limited to only a select few. In 1951-52, the franchise was universal. This posed a challenge to the political parties as to how to proceed with election campaign.
Election to the first Lok Sabha was held in as many as 68 phases over four months. The first Indians to cast their votes in the Lok Sabha election were Buddhists living in the Chini Tehsil (now Kinnaur district) of Himachal Pradesh. The election was held here on October 25, 1951 to avoid winter snowfall.
Around 20 lakh ballot boxes were used to store the votes cast on ballot papers. The ballot boxes were made bullet proof to ensure security and safety of the first democratic exercise. An estimated 8,200 tonnes of steel was used in making those boxes.
Indelible ink, especially developed by Indian scientists, was used to ensure that repeat voters could be identified and prevented from casting their votes again. The ink would stay on the marked finger for a week or so.