SUMMARY:
The most common form of democracy in our times is for the people to govern through their representatives. In this chapter we will look at how these representatives are elected.
MCQs
Question : Which of the following sentiments about the reason 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.
Answer : C
Question : Which of these is not a good reason to say that Indian elections are democratic?
a. India has the largest numbers 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.
Answer : A
Short Answer Type Questions
Question : Define the term "election‟?
Answer : Election is a mechanism by which people can choose their representatives at regular intervals and change them if they wish to do so.
Question : Point out the demerits of electoral competition/ Political competition.
Answer :
1. It creates a sense of disunity and „factionalism‟ in every locality.
2. Different political parties and leaders often level allegations against one another.
3. Parties and candidates often use dirty tricks to win elections.
4. Some people say that this pressure to win electoral fights does not allow sensible long-term policies to be formulated
5. Some good people who may wish to serve the country do not enter this arena because they do not like the idea of being dragged into unhealthy competition
Question : Why is it necessary to check and regulate the activities of political parties and leaders?
Answer :
1. In an ideal world all political leaders know what are good for the people and are only motivated by the desire to serve them. But that is not what happens in real world.
2. Political leaders all over the world like other professionals are motivated by a desire to advance their political career.
3. They want to remain in power and positions for themselves.
4. They may wish to serve people as well, but it is risky to depend entirely on their sense of duty.
5. Even, when they wish to serve people, they may not know what is required to do or their ideas may not match with that of the people really want.
Question : Examine the advantages of „Regular electoral (political) competition.‟
Answer :
1. Regular electoral competition provides incentives to political parties and leaders.
2. They know that if they raise issues that people want to be raised, their popularity and chances of victory will increase in the next elections.
3. But if they fail to satisfy the voters with their work they will not be able to win again. So, even if a political party is motivated only by desire to be in power, even then it will be forced to serve the people.
4. Political competitions may cause divisions and some ugliness, but it finally helps to force political parties and leaders to serve the people.
Question : Differentiate between General election, a by-election and a mid-term election.
Answer :
• Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha (Assembly) elections are held regularly after every FIVE years. After five years the term of all the elected representatives come to an end. The Lok Sabha or the Vidhan Sabha stands dissolved.
• lections 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.
• Sometimes election is held only for one constituency to fill the vacancy caused by the death or resignation of a member. This is called a by-election.
• Before the completion of the full term of five years, if Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha is dissolved, election will be held in all constituencies to form a new government. This is called mid-term election.
Question : What are electoral constituencies? How many constituencies are there for the Lok Sabha elections?
Answer :
1. The country is divided into different areas for the purpose of elections. These areas are called electoral constituencies.
2. The voters who live in an area (Constituency) elect one representative.
3. For Lok Sabha elections, the country is divided into 543 constituencies.
4. Similarly, each state is divided into a specific number of Assembly constituencies, and an elected member is called an MLA.
5. In Panchayats and Municipal elections also, each village and town are divided into several wards and people elect one representative from each ward.
Question : What are Reserved Constituencies? Why is reservation to Lok Sabha/ Vidhan Sabha/ Panchayats necessary?
Answer :
1. Out of 543 Lok Sabha seats 79 seats have been reserved for Scheduled Caste people and 41 seats for Scheduled Tribe people.
2. This system of reservation is extended to Vidhan Sabha and Panchayats and Municipal Corporations also.
3. Makers of our Constitution were worried that certain weaker sections in the society may not be able to get elected to parliament and State Assemblies.
4. Reserved seats are necessary because the socially and economically backward class people do not have the required resources, education and contacts to contest and win election against others.
5. One-third of the seats are reserved in rural and urban local bodies for women candidates.
Question : Define a ‘Voters’ list’/ Electoral Roll.
Answer : Once the constituencies are decided, the next step is to decide who can and who cannot vote. In a democratic election, the list is of those who are eligible to vote is prepared much before the election and given to everyone. This list is officially called the Electoral Roll and is commonly known as the Voters‟ List. The Voter‟s List is prepared by The Election Commission of India
Question : What is EPIC? Can any other identity that be used by a voter as a proof apart from EPIC?
Answer :
1. Election Photo Identity Card [EPIC] has been introduced by the government to be given to every person on the voters list.
2. The voters are required to carry this card when they go out to vote, so that no one can vote for someone else.
3. For voting, the voters can show many other proofs of identity like the ration card or the driving license.
Long Answer Type Questions
Question : 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.
Answer : Different election related activities:
a) Making of voters’ list
b) Announcing election schedule
c) Filing nomination
d) Election campaign
e) Releasing election manifestos
f) Casting of votes
g) Counting of votes
h) Declaration of election results
i) Ordering of re-poll
Question : Surekha is an officer-in-charge of ensuring free and fair elections in an assembly constituency in a state. Describe what she should focus on for each of the following stages of election:
a. Election campaign
b. Polling day
c. Counting day.
Answer :
a. Election campaign – During election campaign, the different political parties hold their meetings, take out their rallies, distribute their manifestos, display their posters and do doorto- door canvassing. Surekha as an officer-in-charge should see that the meetings are held within the stipulated time, there are no clashes during the rallies, no party is violating code of conducts for elections such as, wall-postering, character assassination of the opponents etc.
b. Polling day – On the polling day, the voters go to their nearest polling booths to cast their votes. On this day she has to see that:
¶ The polling is done in a peaceful atmosphere.
¶ No bogus voter casts the vote.
¶ There is police arrangement in every booth.
¶ No unsocial element enters any booth.
¶ There is no booth capturing or rigging.
¶ The ballot boxes or electronic machines reach counting center safely.
c. Counting day – On the counting day the agents of almost every candidate take their seats inside the counting center. Surekha as an officer-in-charge has to take care of the following:
¶ There is a proper seating arrangement for the agents of different candidates.
¶ Proper police arrangement is there to ward off any undue incident.
¶ Counting of votes is carried peacefully without any outside interference and to the full satisfaction of all the candidates.
¶ Rejoicing should be peaceful and un-provocative.
Question : 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.
Answer :
(a) It is wrong to say that election commission of India does not have enough powers to conduct free and fair elections. Because Election Commission of India have enough powers to conduct free and fair elections in the country. The Election Commission of India is an independent and powerful body.
Firstly, the Election Commissioner of India is appointed by the President or Government of India. He can not be removed. Secondly, the can order Election Commissioner can order the Government to follow certain guidelines. Thirdly, if he feels that the elections have not been conducted fairly, he can order repoll in certain booths or even in the entire constituency. Fourthly, during election duty, other Government servants work under the control of Election Commissioner.
(b) It is a fact that there is a high level of popular participation in the elections in our country.
During the last 50 years or so, the turn out of voters in the North America and Europe has declined while in India it has either remained stable or increased. It has been found that in our country the poor, the illiterate and the unprivileged people vote in larger proportion as compared to the rich and the privileged classes.
(c) It is quite a wrong notion that party in power can win an election quite easily in India. If such a thing would have been true, the Congress stalwart like Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, would not have been defeated by Raj Narain, an ordinary politician. There are many occasions when the ruling party has lost elections in India.
(d) There is no system as such where can not be a reform and improvement. Reforms are required to prevent use of money, muscle power, and unfair practices from bearing fruit.
Question : 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?
Answer :
In both the cases, Chinappa and Satbir, the court has done the right thing by not allowing either of them to contest elections. This decision does not go against the principle of democratic elections. The convicted and the guilty persons should not be allowed to contest elections otherwise they would criminalize the whole election process and that jeopardize the high principles of democracy.
Question : 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 5 lakh votes cast for one candidate were counted in favour of another.
(b) Just before the 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.
(c) In the US, each state has its own method of voting, its own procedure of counting and it 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.
Answer :
(a) The officer-in-charge during elections (counting) should have been impartial and should have ordered repoll. For voting there should be electronic machines so that no fraud could be done in counting. In the event of non-availability of electronic machines, the votes should be counted in presence of representatives of different candidates or political parties. Nigeria can learn this lesson from India.
(b) Such a thing is quite wrong against the spirit of a free and fair election. Firstly, the voters should never be threatened to cast their vote against their conscience. Secondly, if at all, any pamphlet was to be distributed then it should have been done at least 48 hours before the date of election a done in India. So Fiji can learn these lessons from India – not to intimidate the voters and even if such a thing happens, then the election can be postponed or cancelled.
(c) In India, one and uniform rules are followed in all states as far as the method of voting, procedure of counting are concerned. Different rules, different authorities, and different procedures of counting lead to the ambiguity and vagueness and take away the sense of justice, which is one of the main principles of democracy. US can take some good points and lessons from India how to follow same rules, procedures etc. in all states and across the country.
Question : 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.
(b) Opposition parties alleged that their statements and campaign was not given the due attention in Doordarshan and All India Radio.
(c) An inquiry by the Election Commission showed that electoral rolls of a state contain names of 20 lakh fake voters.
(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.
Answer :
(a) By doing so, the minister has erred on two counts. Firstly, he should not have made this promise when the announcement of elections has already been made. Secondly, by promising financial aid he is trying to bribe the voters by using financial tricks. He is trying to take advantage of his party being in power. This mill should not be opened and it should be left to the winning party to decide after the elections.
(b) In order to remove this allegation of the opposition parties, the best solution is that Doordarshan and All India Radio must be made autonomous bodies so that government could not influence them in its favour. Equal time should be given to all parties and candidates to present their views in front of the voters.
(c) The Election Commission has the power to remaking of the electoral rolls and to see that the names of 20 lakh fake voters are removed from the new electoral rolls.
(d) The Election Commission has the power to check this malpractice of moving with guns, physically preventing supporters of other political parties to meet the voters and attacking meetings of other parties. It can withdraw the recognition of any party or disqualify such a candidate from contesting elections if its supporters are found to be moving with weapons.
Question : Ramesh was not in class when this chapter was being taught. He came the next day and reported 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. So what is the point of giving them the right to vote?
(b) Party politics creates tension in society. Elections should be decided by consensus not by competition.
(c) Only graduates should be allowed to stand as candidates for elections.
Answer :
(a) Women always vote the way men tell them to do is a wrong statement. It would be totally undemocratic if we debar women who are about 50 per cent of the population, of their right to vote on the basis of gender distinction. It will also take away the quality of true representation of a democracy. Often we see husband contesting election from one party while his wife contesting from another party.
(b) A healthy competition provides option to the people to choose the better. A consensus can make the people deaf and dumb which against the spirit of democracy. Electoral competition is necessary because it provides incentives to political parties and leaders and forces them to serve the people better.
(c) Educational qualifications are not necessary to all kinds of jobs. It is also a wrong notion that only graduates should be allowed to contest elections. A majority of people who fought for the independence of the country were almost illiterate. They have equal right with those of the educated to enjoy the fruit of the hard won independence. It is also agreed that if a graduate degree is made an eligibility criteria, then more than 90% of the voters would become ineligible for contesting an election. Would that be a democracy, certainly not. India follows the rule – ‘One person one vote’. This is in true spirit of democracy.
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