The document discusses various aspects of elections in India including why elections are needed in a democracy, what makes elections democratic, the electoral process, and challenges to free and fair elections. Key points include: 1) Elections allow citizens to choose their representatives and change the government if desired through regular voting. 2) Features of democratic elections include everyone having an equal vote, multiple choices of parties/candidates, elections held regularly, and votes determining the winner. 3) Challenges to free and fair elections in India include money power giving some candidates unfair advantages and candidates with criminal connections intimidating others.

1. introduction
 In chapter two---seen---democracy---neither possible nor necessary---people to
govern directly
 Most common form of democracy---people to govern through their
representatives
 In this chapter---Elections & why elections
 What makes election democratic?
 Is it good to have political competition?
 What is our system of election?
 Role of election commission---elections
 What makes election democratic in india?
 Conclusion

2. Electoral politics
politics
Electoral

3. Why elections?
Q. What do you mean by Election? what are the choices that the voter gets
during election?(3 mks)
Ans: A mechanism in which the people can choose their representatives at
regular intervals and change them if they wish to do so is called an Election.
 The voters can choose :
a) who will make laws for them
b) who will form the government and take major decisions.
c) the party whose policies will guide the government and law making.

4. Why elections?
Assembly election in Haryana in 1987.
 Chaudhary Devi Lal was an opposition leader in Haryana
 He started a movement called “Nyaya Yudh”- Struggle for Justice.
 He formed a party- Lok Dal
 His party joined---opposition party against the Congress
 In the election campaign---he promised--a chance to form government----
first action---waiving---loan for farmers and small businessmen.
 The people were unhappy in the existing government.
Symbol of Indian National Lok Dal

5. Why elections?
• In 1987 State Assembly Election- Lok Dal & its partners won 76 out of 90
seats, Lok Dal alone won 60, Congress got only 5 seats
• The existing chief minister---resigned and Governor invited Devi Lal to be
the new Chief Minister
• As soon as he became the chief minister, government issued loans of small
farmers, agricultural laborers and small businessmen.
• Party ruled Haryana---next four years.
• In the next election in 1991, the Congress won the election and formed the
government.

6. Why do we need Election in Democracy?
• In countries like India---practically---not possible---people to sit together
every day and take all the decisions.
• Neither everyone has the time nor the knowledge to take decisions on all
matters.
• So in most democracies people rule through their representatives.
• So elections are essential in representative democracy.

7. What makes an Election Democratic? (Or) Features of Democratic
Election? (5 mks)
Ans:
1. Everyone should be able to choose: It means that everyone should have
one vote and every vote should have equal value.
2. There should be something to choose: the Parties and Candidate should
be free to contest elections and should offer some real choice to the voters.
3. The Choice should be offered at regular intervals: Election must be held
regularly after every few years.
4. The candidate preferred by the people should get elected.
5. Election should be conducted in a free and fair manner: The people can
choose as they really wish.

8. Is it good to have political competition?
 Elections are all about competitions.
 It has its own merits and demerits.
 If there is no competition, elections will become pointless
Q . What are the various forms of Political Competition?
Ans:
1. Competition among several candidates for Party Tickets.
2. Competition for Top Positions in the Party
3. Competition among political Parties
4. Competition between several candidates at Constituency level.

9. Demerits of Political (Electoral) Competition in India
Q. What are the demerits of political / Electoral competition?(3 mks)
Ans:
1. It creates a sense of disunity and factionalism in every locality.
2. Different political parties and leaders often put allegations against one
another.
3. Parties and candidates often use dirty tricks to win the election
4. 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.
6. They do not like the idea being dragged into healthy competition.

10. Merits of Political(Electoral) Competition
Q. What are the merits of political / Electoral competition?(3 mks)
Ans:
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 chance of victory will increase in the next election. If they
fail, they can’t to win the next election.
3. If any party is motivated only by desires to be in power, even then it will
be forced to serve the people.
4. Political competition may cause divisions and ugliness, but it finally helps
to force political parties and leaders to serve people.

11. What is our systemof elections?
Can we say Indian Elections are democratic?
• In India we are following an area based system of representation. The
country is divided into different areas for the purpose of election. These
areas are called Electoral Constituencies.
• Voters of that area elect one representative
• Election---General, By, Midterm
Questions: (1 mk each)
1. What are electoral constituencies?
2. Name the different types of elections held in India?

12. Difference between- General, By and MidtermElection
The Lok Sabha & Vidhan Sabha election is called the General Elections.
It is held in all constituencies at the same time, either on the same day or
within a few days.
First General Election was held in : 1952
16th Lok Sabha Election held in : April- May 2014.
There are certain elections that are conducted in a particular constituency
owing to death or resignation of a member. These are called By- Elections.
If the Government falls due to lack of Confidence in the Lok Sabha or the state
Assembly before completion of its full-term and no alternative government is
possible, Mid-term Elections are held.

13. Electoral Constituencies
• For Lok Sabha election, the country is divided into 543 Constituencies. The
representative elected from each constituency is called a Member of Parliament or
MP
• Each state is divided into a specific number of Assembly Constituencies. The
elected representative is called the Member of Legislative Assembly or
MLA
• In the Municipal and Panchayat election, each village or town is divided into
several wards like constituencies.
• Some times these constituencies are counted as ‘Seats’, Each constituency
represent one seat in the assembly
• Eg: Lok Dal won 60 seats in Haryana, it means that candidate of Lok Dal
won in 60 assembly constituencies.

14. Reserved constituencies
• In open electoral competitions, certain weaker sections of the society may
not stand good chance of winning because of the influence of powerful
sections.
• Hence, the makers of our constitution prepared a system of reserved
constituencies for these weaker sections.
• Certain constituencies are reserved for the people belonging to the
Scheduled Castes (SC) and the scheduled Tribes (ST)
Questions: (1mk each)
1.What is the meaning of Reserved Constituency?
2.Why do we need Reserved Constituencies?

15. Reserved constituencies
• In the Lok Sabha, seats reserved for the SCs and the STs are 79 (84) and 41
(47) respectively. These are in proportion to their population in the total
population of the country.
• They may not have the required resources education and contacts to
contests and win the elections.
• In many states seats in local bodies (Village and Municipalities) are reserved
for Other Backward Classes (OBC) as well.
• One third of the seats are reserved in rural and urban local bodies for
Women candidates.
Questions: (1mk each)
1. How much seats are reserved for women candidates?
2. How many seats are reserved for SC & ST in Lok Sabha?

16. Voter’s list or electoral roll
• In a democratic election the list of people eligible to vote is prepared much
before the election.
• This list is officially called the Electoral Roll and is commonly known as the
Voter’s List.
• A complete revision of the list takes place every five years.
• This is an important step, it is linked to the first condition of a democratic
election: everyone should get an equal opportunity to choose their
representatives.
• This ensures that everyone in the country gets an equal opportunity of
choosing their political representatives.

17. Voter’s list or electoral roll
• Regardless of a person’s caste, creed, color and gender, every person of and
above 18 years of age is eligible to vote.
• Different citizens differ from one another in many ways: some are rich---
poor, some are highly educated---not so educated or not educated at all, but
still they have the right to vote.
• Some criminals & persons with unsound mind---denied voting---rare
situations
• Names of persons attaining voting age are added.
• Names of persons who move out of a place or those who are dead are
deleted.
Question: (3 mks)
1. What is meaning of Voters’ List and what is its importance in Democratic
Election?

18. Write a short note on: Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC)---3
mks
• This is a new system introduced by the Election Commission.
• The government has tried to give this card to every person on the Voters
List.
• The Voters are required to carry this card when they go out to vote ,So that
no one can vote for someone else.
• But the card is not yet compulsory for voting.
• For voting, the voters can show many other proofs of identity like ration
card or driving license.

19. Nomination of Candidates
• In a democratic Election people should have a real choices and there is no
restriction on anyone to contest in the election.
• Anyone who can be a voter can also become a candidate in election.
• The only difference is that in order to be a candidate the minimum age is 25
years, while it is only 18 years for being a voter.
• Another one restriction those who are criminals in extreme case can’t
contest in the election.
• The political parties nominate their candidates who get the party symbols
and support.
• Party’s nomination is often called- ‘Party Ticket’
• Those who wish to contest in the election has to fill a ‘nomination form’&
give some money as ‘Security Deposit’
• Question: (3 mks)
1. What are the procedures to be followed by candidate contesting an
election?

20. Nomination of Candidates
• Recently Supreme Court declared a new direction for the candidates.
• Every candidates needs to give a legal declaration about
1. Serious criminal cases pending against the candidates
2. Details of the assets and liabilities of the candidate and his or her family
3. Educational qualification of the candidate
• This information has to be made public.
• This provides an opportunity to the voters to make their decision on the
basis of the information provided by the candidates.
Question:(3 mks)
1. What legal declaration is to be made by a candidate intending to contest an
election?

21. Election Campaign
• The main purpose of election is to give people a chance to choose the
representatives, the govt & the policies they prefer.
• Therefore, it is necessary to have a free and open discussion about who is a
better representative, and who will make a better government.
• In our country such campaigns take place for a two week period between the
announcement of the final list of candidates and the date of polling.
• During this period the candidates contact their voters, political leaders
address election meetings and political parties mobilize their supporters.
• The publicity is done through news papers, television channels, election
meetings, posters etc.
• In election campaigns, political parties try to focus public attention on some
big issues for which usually catchy slogans are created to attract people’s
attention

22. Some Catchy Slogans used by some political parties during the time of Election
• Garibi Hatao (Remove Poverty)- The Congress party led by Indira Gandhi
in the Lok Sabha Election- 1971.
• Save democracy- Janata Party during the Lok Sabha Election in 1977
election. The party promises restore civil liberties happened during the time
of emergency.
• Land to the Tiller- Left Front in West Bengal State Assembly election- 1977.
• Protect the Self Respect of the Telugus- N.T. Rama Rao, the leader of
Telugu Desam Party in AP State Assembly Election- 1988

23. the Election Law
• According to our election law, a party or candidate cannot
1. Bribe or threaten voters.
2. Appeal to them in the name of Caste and Religion
3. Use government resources for election campaign
4. Spend more than 25 lakh in a constituency for Lok Sabha election and 10
lakh in the State assembly election

24. the Code of Conduct
• In addition to the Election Laws, all the political parties in our country have
to agreed to a model Code of Conduct.
• According to this no party or candidate can:
1. Use any place of worship for election propaganda
2. Use government vehicles, aircrafts and officials for elections.
3. Once elections are announced, ministers shall not lay foundation stones
of any projects, take any big policy decisions or make any promises of
providing public facilities

25. Polling and counting of votes
• The final stage of an election is the day when the voters cast their vote .this is
called Election day.
• Every person whose name is in the voters list go to the nearby “polling
booth", situated usually in a local school or a government office.
• Once the voter goes inside the booth the election officials identify her ,put a
mark on her finger and allow her to cast vote.

26. Polling and counting of votes
• Earlier the voters used to indicate who they wanted to vote for by putting a
stamp on the ballot paper.
• A ballot paper is sheet of paper on which the names of the contesting
candidates along with party name and symbols are listed .
• Now a days electronic voting machines (EVMs) are used to record votes.
• The machine shows the names of the candidates and party symbol.
Question: (1 mk)
1. What is a ballot paper?
2. What are EVMs?

27. Polling and counting of votes
• All the voters has to do is to press the button against the name of the
candidate she wants to give her vote.
• Television channels , radio, and newspaper report this event.
• Within a few hours of counting, all the results are declared and it becomes
clear as to who will form the next government.

28. Q. What Makes Indian Election Democratic? (Or)
How we can say Indian Election is free and fair?
Ans:
1. Independent Election Commission
2. Popular participation
3. Acceptance of election outcome

29. Independent Election Commission
• In India elections are conducted by an independent and powerful
autonomous Election Commission.
• The president of India appoints the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and
two other Election Commissioner for a six years of period.
• It enjoys the same kind of independence that the judiciary enjoys.
• But once appointed the Election commissioner is not answerable to the
president or the government.
• Even if the ruling party or the government does not like what commission
does, it is impossible for it to remove the CEC and they need to obey.

30. What is the role or function of the Election Commission in India?
(5 mks)
1. EC takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections from
the announcement of election to the declaration of results.
2. It implements the code of conduct and punishes any candidate or party
that violates it.
3. During the election period, it can also order the government to follow
some guideline, to prevent use and misuse of governmental power to
enhance its chance to win elections, or to transfer some governmental
officials.
4. When on the election duty, government officers work under the control of
the EC and not the government.
5. When the election officials come to the opinion that polling was not fair in
some booths or even an entire constituency, they order a re poll.
6. It is very common now for the EC to reprimand the government and
administration for their lapses.

31. Popular participation
1. People’s participation in election is usually measured by voter turnout
figures. The per cent of eligible who actually cast heir votes are known as
TURNOUT. Over the last fifty years the turnout in India and Europe are
declined. The turnout in India has remained stable or gone up.
2. The people who are poor, illiterate, underprivileged vote in large
proportion as compared to the rich sections. It is a contrast to Western
democracies.
3. Common people in India attach a lot of important to elections
4. The interest of voters in election related activities has been increasing over
the year

32. Acceptance of election outcome
• The ruling parties routinely lose elections in India both at the national and
the state level
• In the US, an incumbent or ‘setting’ elected representative rarely loses an
election.
• Candidate who are known to have spend a lot of money on buying votes
and those with known criminal connections often lose elections.
• Barring very few disputed elections the electoral outcomes are usually
accepted as peoples verdict by the defeated party.
Question: (3 mks)
1. What is the outcome of elections in India?

33. Challenges to free and fair election in India(5 mks)
1. Candidates and parties with lot of money may not be sure of their victory
but they do enjoy a big and unfair advantages over smaller parties and
independence.
2. In some parts of the country, candidates with criminal connection have
been able to push others out of the electoral race and to secure the ticket
from major parties.
3. Some families tend to dominate political parties; tickets are distributed to
relatives from these families.
4. Very often elections offer little choice to ordinary citizens, for both the
major parties are quite similar to each other both in policies and practice.
5. Smaller parties and independent candidates suffer a huge disadvantages
compared to bigger parties.
Question: (5 mks)
1. What are the challenges to free and fair election in India?

34. THANK YOU!!
