8. ELECTION IS THE REAL PARTICIPATION OF PEOPLE IN DEMOCRACY
WHERE THE PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN DIRECT WAY TO FORM GOVERNMENT .
ELECTION IS NOT ONLY A PROCESS WHERE PEOPLE GO ON CAST THEIR VOTE
THOUGH IT’S A FESTIVAL OF DEMOCRACY SYSTEM . DEMOCRACY DEPENDS
ON PEOPLE , PEOPLE DEPEND ON ELECTION THERE THEY ELECT THEIR
REPRESENTATIVE TO PARLIAMENT / GOVERNMENT. GOVERNMENT NEEDS
TO GO WITH ELECTION FOR TAKING MEMORANDUM THROUGH PEOPLE OF
HIS COUNTRY . WHENEVER GOVERNMENT NEEDS FOR A FRESH NEW TERM
OF THE GOVERNMENT THEY WILL GO FOR ELECTION . ELECTION IS A
PROCESS OF GOVERNMENT ALSO A POWER OF PEOPLE .
ELECTION IS THAT MECHANISAM BY WHICH PEOPLE CAN CHOOSE
THEIR LEADER AT A REGULAR INTERVALS OF TIME & CHANGE THEM IF THEY
WISH TO DO SO.
AH! SO ELECTIONS ARE LIKE EXAMS . WHERE POLITICIANS & PARTIES
KNOW IF THEY HAVE PASSED / FAIL .

11. FOR ELECTION & GOVERNING PURPOSES. INDIA IS
DIVDED INTO 543 ELECTORAL TERRITORIES KNOWN AS
CONSTITUENCIES. ONE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE ELECTED
EACH OF THESE 543 PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCIES THEN
BECOME A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT ( MP ) IN THE LOK-
SABHA OF THE PARLIAMENT.
THE LOK-SABHA MEANS ASSEMBLY OF PEOPLE & IN
THE LOWER HOUSE OF THE PARLIAMENT . THIS IS SIMILAR TO
“ THE HOUSE OF COMMONS “ WHICH IS THE LOWER HOUSE
OF THE PARLIAMENT IN U.K .

12. THE ELECTION COMISSION OF INDIA PRESIDES OVER THE
GENERAL ELECTION IN INDIA . THE ELECTORAL ROLL WHICH IS A
VOTERS LIST FOR EACH CONSTITUENCIES IS PREPAPED . IT
CONTAINS THE LIST OF VOTERS WHO HAVE REGISTERED TO VOTE
IN EACH CONSTITUENCIES . REGISTERED VOTERS WILL HAVE A
VOTERS ID CARD FOR IDENTIFICATION . THE MINIMUM AGE FOR
VOTERS REGISTRATION IN INDIA IS 18 . ANY CITIZEN OF INDIA
WHO IS 18 & ABOVE & WITH A SOUND MENTAL STATE CAN VOTE
IN THE ELECTION OF INDIA

13. IN INDIA , MUTIPLE NUMBERS OF PARTIES CAN BE PERFORMED &
CONTEST ELECTIONS . POLITICAL PARTIES ARE FORMED BY A GROUP
OF PEOPLE BASED ON PRINCIPLE & IDEOLOGIES . THE ELECTION
COMISSION OF INDIA APPROVES THE CANDIDATE NOMINATED BY A
PARTY TO STAND FOR ELECTION BASED ON A STIPULATED SET OF
RULES . ELECTION CAMPAIGNING STARTS FULL SWING
APPROXIMATELY A MONTH BEFORE THE ELECTIONS . THIS IS CLOSELY
WATCHED BY ELECTION COMISSION OF INDIA . PARTIES CAN GIVE
SPEECHES , SHOUT , SLOGANS & HANG POSTERS / POSTERS . THEY
SHOULD FOLLOW STIPULATED GUIDELINES WHICH THEY SHOULD NOT
BREACH . VOTING IN INDIA IS DONE WITH THE HELP OF ELECTRONIC
VOTING MACHINE ( EVM ) . AN IDEBILE INK IS PLACED ON ALL THOSE
WHO VOTED . THIS HELP IN PREVENTING MISCREANTS FROM VOTING
MULTIPLE TIMES IN A SINGLE ELECTION & CHEATING IN ELECTION .

14. ELECTION RESULTS ARE ANNOUNCED WITHIN A STIPULATED
TIME WITH HOW MANY SEATS EACH PARTY WON ALONG WITH
THE NAME OF MP REPRESENTING EACH CONSTITUENCY . THE
ELECTED MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT ( MP ) WHO FORM THE LOK-
SABHA IN TURN WILL PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN FORMING THE
NEW GOVERNMENT BASED ON THE NUMBER OF SEATS WON BY
THE PARTIES ALSO DETERMINES WHO WILL BECOME PRIME
MINISTER . THUS THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE ELECTION
SYSTEM PROCESS . INDIAN VOTERS IMPACT THE FORMAATION OF
THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT .

16. THE ELECTION COMISSION OF INDIA IS AN
AUTONOMOUS , CONSTITUTIONALLY ESTABLISHED
FEDERAL AUTHORITY RESPONSIBLE FOR
ADMINSTERING ALL THE ELECTORAL PROCESS IN THE
REPUBLIC OF INDIA . UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE
COMISSION , FREE & FAIR ELECTION HAVE BEEN HELD
IN INDIA AT REGULAR INTERVALS AS PER THE
PRINCIPLES ENSHRINED IN THE CONSTITUTION . THE
ELECTION COMISSION HAS THE POWER OF
SUPERINTENDENCE , DIRECTION & CONTROL OF ALL
ELECTIONS TO THE PARLIAMENT OF INDIA & THE STATE
LEGISLATURE & OF ELECTIONS TO THE OFFICE OF THE
PRESIDENT OF INDIA & THE VICE PRESIDENT OF INDIA

19. THE CHIEF ELECTION COMISSION HEADS THE ELECTION
COMISSION OF INDIA A BODY CONSTITUTIONALLY
EMPOWERED TO CONDUCT FREE & FAIR ELECTION TO THE
NATIONAL & STATE LEGISLATURES . CHIEF ELECTION
COMISSION OF INDIA IS USUALLY A MEMBER OF INDIAN
CIVIL SERVICE & MOSTLY FROM THE INDIAN
ADMINSTATIVE SERVICE . IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE
THE AUTHORITY OF CHIEF ELECTION COMISSION ONCE
ELECTED BY THE PRESIDENT . AS TWO THIRD OF THE LOK-
SABHA & THE RAJYA SABHA NEED TO VOTE AGAINST HIM
FOR DISORDERLY CONDUCT / IMPROPER ACTION.
THE CHIEF ELECTION COMISSION CAN BE REMOVED
ONLY THROUGH BY THE PARLIAMENT . AS PER THE ACT
1991 THE CHIEF ELECTION COMISSION HIS SALARY IS THE
SAME AS SALARY OF A JUDGE OF SUPREME COURT OF
INDIA ( RS 90,000 )

23. GUARDIAN OF FREE & FAIR ELECTION
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE DEMOCRATIC
POLICY IS ELECTION AT REGULAR INTERVALS
DEMOCRACY IS THE GOVERNMENT OF PEOPLE , BY THE PEOPLE ,
& FOR THE PEOPLE
HOLDING PERIODIC FREE & FAIR ELECTION ARE ESSENTIAL OF
DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM . IT IS PART OS BASIC STRUCTURE OF THE
CONSTITUTION . THE ELECTION COMISSION HAS TAKEN MANY
EFFORTS FOR THE SUCCESS OF ELECTION & THEREBY DEMOCRACY
MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT
THE ELECTION COMISSION IS REGARDED AS THE GUARDIAN OF
FREE & FAIR ELECTION . IN EVERY ELECTION , IT ISSUES A MODEL CODE
OF CONDUCT FOR POLITICAL PARTIES & CANDIDATES TO CONDUCT
ELECTION IN FREE & FAIR MANNER. THE ELECTION COMISSION LAY
DOWN GUIDELINES FOR CONDUCT OF POLITICAL PARTIES &
CANDIDATES DURING ELECTION. HOWEVER THERE ARE INSTANCES OF
VIOLATION OF CODE BY THE POLITICAL PARTIES & COMPLAINT ARE
RECEIVED FOR MISUSE OF OFFICIAL MACHINERY BY THE CANDIDATES

24. REGISTRATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES
A LAW REGARDING TO THE REGISTRATION PROCESS WAS ENACTED IN
1989 & NUMBER OF PARTIES GOT REGISTERED WITH COMISSION . IT HELPS TO
AVOID CONFUSION & HEADACHE OF THE ADMINSTRATIVE MACHINERY AS
WELL AS CONFUSION OF THE ELECTORATE . IT ENSURES THAT POLITICAL
PARTIES CAN PRACTISE DEMOCRACY ONLY BY THE REGISTRATION
LIMITS ON POLL EXPENSE
TO GET RID OF THE GROWING INFLUENCE & VULGUR SHOW OF MONEY
DURING ELECTION . THE ELECTION COMISSION HAS MADE MANY
SUGGESTIONS IN THIS REGARD . THE ELECTION COMISSION HAS FIXED THE
LEGAL LIMITS ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WHICH A CANDIDATE CAN SPEND
DURING ELECTION CAMPAIGN. THE ELECTION COMISSION BY APPOINTING
OBSERVERS KEEP AN EYE ON INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT OF ANNUAL EXPENDITURE
. THE CONTESTANTWS ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO GIVE DETAILS OF EXPENDITURE
WITHIN 30 DAYS OF DECLARATION OF RESULTS
THE CAMPAIGN PERIOD WAS REDUCED BY THE ELECTION COMISSION FROM
21-14 DAYS FOR LOKSABHA & ASSEMBLY ELECTION. IT IS FOR TO TRIM DOWN
ELECTION EXPENDITURE

25. IN INDIA , AN INDEPENDENT & VERY POWERFUL ELECTION
COMISSION TO CONDUCT THE ELECTION
THE KIND OF INDEPEDENCE & POWERS THE ELECTION
COMISSION ENJOYS
*THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA APPOINTS THE CHIEF ELECTION
COMISSION ( CEC ).
*THE CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSION IS THE HEAD OF THE
ELECTION COMMISSION
*ONCE APPOINTED THE CHIEF ELECTION COMISSIONER IS NOT
ANSWERABLE TO THE PRESIDENT / THE GOVERNMENT.
EVEN IF THE RULING PARTY DOESNOT LIKE WHAT THE
COMISSIONER DOES , IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR IT TO
REMOVE THE CHIEF ELECTION COMISSION.

26. *VERY FEW ELECTION COMISSION IN THE WORLD HAVE SUCH
WIDE RANGING POWERS AS THE ELECTION COMISSION OF
INDIA
*ELECTION COMISSION TAKES DECISION ON EVERY ASPECT OF
CONDUCTS & CONTROL OF ELECTIONS FROM THE
ANNOUNCEMENT OF ELECTIONS TO THE DECLARATION OF
RESULTS
*IT IMPLEMENTS THE CODE OF CONDUCT & PUNISHES ANY
CANDIDATE / PARTY THAT VIOLATES IT
*WHEN ON ELECTION DUTY , GOVERNMENT OFFICERS WORK
UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE ELECTION COMISSION & NOT THE
GOVERNMENT.
.

27. *THE ELECTION COMISSION IS AN INDEPENDENT & POWERFUL
AS THE JUDICIARY IN INDIA
•DURING THE ELECTION PERIOD , THE ELECTION COMISSION CAN
ORDER THE GOVERNMENT TO FOLLOW SOME GUIDELINES TO
PREVENT USE & MISUSE GOVERNMENTAL POWER TO ENHANCE
ITS CHANCES TO WIN ELECTION / TO TRANSFER SOME
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
•IN THE LAST 15 YEARS THE ELECTION COMISSION HAS
BEGUN TO EXERCISE ALL ITS POWER & EVEN EXPAND
THEM.

28. ELECTION PROCEDURE IN INDIA
1. PREPARATION OF VOTERS LIST
IN A DEMOCRATIC ELECTION , THE LIST OF THOSE
WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IS PREPARED BEFORE THE
ELECTION & GIVEN TO EVERYONE THIS LIST IS OFFICIALLY
CALLED THE ELECTORAL ROLL & IS COMONLY KNOWN AS
VOTERS LIST .

29. 2. NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT IN ORDER TO BE A
CANDIDATE THE MINIMUM AGE IS 25 WHILE IT IS ONLY
18 YEARS FOR BEING A VOTER .
EVERY PERSON WHO WISHES TO CONTEST AN
ELECTION HAS TO FILL A NOMINATION FORM & GIVE
SOME MONEY AS A SECURITY DEPOSIT.

30. 3. ELECTION CAMPAIGN
IT IS NECESSARY TO HAVE A FREE & FAIR & OPEN
DISCUSSION ABOUT WHO IS BETTER REPRESENTATIVE ,
WHICH PARTY WILL MAKE A BETTER . GOVERNMENT /
WHAT IS GOOD POLICY . THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS DURING
THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN

31. RUGGL
4. POLLING & COUNTING OF VOTES
THE FINAL STAGE OF ELECTION IS THE DAY WHEN THE
VOTER’S CAST / POLL THEIR VOTE . EVERY PERSON WHOSE
NAME IS ON THE VOTERS LIST CAN GO TO NEARBY POLLING
BOOTHS SITUATED USUALLY IN A LOCAL SCHOOL / A
GOVERNMENT OFFICE .

34. •Election Campaign
1) Election campaigns in India takes place for two
weeks, starting from the declaration of the final list of
candidates contesting the elections and concluding 48
hours before the date of polling.
2) During this campaign, candidates reach out to the
voters. Political leaders hold election meetings and
rallies for informing the voters about their policies and
persuading them to vote for them.
3) Some successful slogans used during campaigns
are “Garibi Hatao” (used by the Congress, led by
Indira Gandhi, in the year 1971), “Save Democracy”
(used by Janata party in 1977), “Land to the
Tiller’ (used by The Left Front in West Bengal
Assembly elections, 1977), etc.

38. ROLE OF MONEY IN ELECTION
THE ROLE OF MONEY IN ELECTORAL POLITICS HAS ASSUMED
DANGEROUS PROPORTION EVERY POLITICAL PARTIES HAS DEVELOPED A
TENDENCY TO LEAN ON THE CAPITALISTS FOR FIGHTING ELECTIONS . WH
THE RULING PARTY COLLECT HUGE ELECTION FUNDS , THE OTHER PARTIE
HAVE NO SUCH ADVANTAGE . THIS NOT ONLY BREEDS CORRUPTION BUT
ALSO DENIES THE EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY.

39. ROLE OF MONEY IN ELECTION
THE ROLE OF MONEY IN ELECTORAL POLITICS HAS ASSUMED
DANGEROUS PROPORTION EVERY POLITICAL PARTIES HAS DEVELOPED A
TENDENCY TO LEAN ON THE CAPITALISTS FOR FIGHTING ELECTIONS . WH
THE RULING PARTY COLLECT HUGE ELECTION FUNDS , THE OTHER PARTIE
HAVE NO SUCH ADVANTAGE . THIS NOT ONLY BREEDS CORRUPTION BUT
ALSO DENIES THE EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY.

40. THE INCREASING ROLE OF MONEY DISTORTS THE
ELECTORAL PROCESS IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS
*IT PLACES THE RULING PARTY AT AN ADVANTAGEOUS
POSITION
•IT MAKES THE ELECTORAL BATTLE A STRUGGLE BETWEEN
UNEQUALS.
•IT PERVERTS THE THINKING OF VOTERS & THEY EXERCISE THEIR
VOTE UNDER THE GREED OR INFLUENCE OF MONEY.
•IT ERODES THE FAITH OF HONEST VOTERS IN THE DEMOCRATIC
SYSTEM
•IT TILTS THE BALANCE OF POWER IN FAVOUR OF THE PARTY
HAVING ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY AT ITS DISPOSAL
•IT DISTORTS THE REPRESENTATIVE CHARACTER OF OUR
ELECTORAL BODIES.