1.ELECTORAL POLTICS Lijin Golden

2. Major Areas of this Chapter1. General Aspects regarding withElection A Election Report in HaryanaChaudhary Devi LalNyaya Yudh MovementFormation of Lok Dal political party Importance of ElectionMeaning of ElectionChoices getting to a voter Features of Democratic Election Is it good, a political competition in Democracy 3. 2. Indian Election System (Process andProdedures) How we can called Indian Election are democratic? General, By, Midterm Election Electoral Constituencies Reserved Constituency Voters List Nomination of Candidates Educational qualification of candidates Election Campaign Polling and Counting of Votes 4. 3. How we can call Election in India is a Democratic Unfair election practices Independent Election Commission Participation in the Election Acceptance of Election Result Challenges of free and fair elections 5. Chaudhary Devi Lal & Lok DalParty Chaudhary Devi Lal was an opposition leader inHaryana He started a movement called Nyaya Yudh-Struggle for Justice. He formed a party- Lok Dal His party joined with other opposition party againstthe Congress In the election campaign he gave the promises ifthey will get a chance to form government wouldwaive loan for farmers and small businessmen. He promised that this would be the first action ofhis government. The people were unhappy in the existing 6. In 1987 State Assembly Election- Lok Dal and hisparty won 76 out of 90, Lok Dal alone won 60,Congress got 5 seats only The existing chief minister has resigned andGovernor invited Devi Lal to be the new ChiefMinister As soon as he became the chief minister,government issued loans of small farmers,agricultural labourers and small businessmen. Party ruled Haryana in the next four years. In the next election in 1991, the Congress won theelection and formed the government. 7. What do you mean by Election?The election is a mechanism in which the people can choose their representatives at regular intervals and change them if they wish to do so. This mechanism is called Election 8. Why do we need Election in Democracy? The large countries like India, practically it is notpossible for people to sit together every day andtake all the decisions. Nor everyone has the time and knowledge to takedecisions on all matters. So in most democracies people rule through theirrepresentatives. Election provides a mechanism by which peoplecan choose their representatives at regularintervals and change them if they wish to do so. So election are essential in any representativedemocracy. 9. Which are the choices getting a Voterduring the time of Election1. They can choose who will make laws for them.2. They can chose who will form the government and take major decisions.3. They can choose the party whose policies will guide the government and law making. 10. What makes an ElectionDemocratic? (Or) Features of Democratic Election1. 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. 11. 3. The Choice should be offered at regular intervals: Election must be held regularly after every few years.4. The candidate preffered 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. 12. Various forms of PoliticalCompetition1. Competition among several candidates for Party Tickets.2. Competition for Top Positions in the Party3. Competition among political Parties4. Competition between several candidates at Constituency level. (If there is no competition, election will become pointless) 13. Demerits of Political (Electoral) Competition in India1.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 election4. Pressure to win electoral fights does not allow sensible long term policies to be formulated.(But some good people who may wish to serve the country do not enter this field). 14. Merits of Political (Electoral)Competition1. 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 cant 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. 15. 2. Indian Election System (Process andProdedures) How we can called Indian Election are democratic? General, By, Midterm Election Electoral Constituencies Reserved Constituency Voters List Nomination of Candidates Educational qualification of candidates Election Campaign Polling and Counting of Votes 16. How we can called Indian Election areDemocratic?1. Universal Adult Franchise: All the adult citizens they are getting a right to vote and each persons they have One vote must carry one Value.2. Electoral Choice: Competition between political parties and between various candidates. One party system is opposed the spirit of democracy3. Elections at Regular Intervals: There are periodic elections in democracy4. Free and fair Election: In a democracy voters are not subject to pressure or fear. They can choose the candidate according to their own wish 17. Different Types of Election in India(Or)Difference between- General, By andMidterm Election General ElectionThe Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha (State Assembly)election are held regularly every five years. The LokSabha or Vidhan Sabha stands dissolved. Electionare held in all constituencies at the same time,either on the same day or within few days.First General Election was held in : 195215th Lok Sabha Election held in : April- May 2009. 18. By- ElectionThe election is held only for one constituency to fill the vacancy caused by death or resignation of a member. This is called By- Election Midterm ElectionThe Lok Sabha or State Assembly may be dissolved before its term of five years is before, midterm poll is required to constitute a new House. In fact the expression midterm Election has no legal significance, because election to the Lok Sabha is invariably called a General Election 19. Meaning- ElectoralConstituenciesIn India we are following an area based systemof representation. For this purpose Country isdivided into different areas for the purpose ofelection. These areas are called ElectoralConstituencies.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 20. Each state is divided into a specific number of Assembly Constituencies. The elected representative is called the Member of Legislative Assembly or MLAIn the Municipal and Panchayat election, eachvillage or town is divided into several wards likeconstituencies.Some times these constituencies are counted as Seats, Each constituency represent one seat in the assemblyEg: Lok Dal won 60 seats in Haryana, it means that candidate of Lok Dal won in 60 assembly constituencies. 21. What is the meaning of ReservedConstituency?In India some Constituencies are reserved forpeople who belong to the Scheduled Castes(SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).In a SC reserved constituency only someone whobelongs to the Scheduled castes can stand forelection.Similarly those who are belonging to the ScheduledTribes can stand for election Scheduled Caste reservation: 79 Seats (84) Scheduled Tribe Constituency: 41 Seats (47) 22. Why do we need ReservedConstituencies?Indian Constitution ensures every citizen to elect itsrepresentatives and to be elected as arepresentative. Indian Constitution makers made aspecial system of reserved constituencies forWeaker Section to get elected to the Lok Sabhaand State Legislative Assembly. Because theyhave of lack of resources, education and contactsto contest and win election against others. Sosome constituencies are reserved for ScheduledCastes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). In manystates seats in local bodies (Village andMunicipalities) are reserved for Other Backward 23. Meaning of Voters List and itsimportance in Democratic ElectionIn a democratic election the list of people eligible tovote is prepared much before the election. This listis officially called the Electoral Roll and iscommonly known as the Voters List. This is theimportant step and linked to the first condition ofdemocratic election.The electoral roll is normally revised every year to add the names of those who are to turn 18 on the 1st January of that year or have moved into a constituency and to remove the names of those who have died or moved out of the constituency. A 24. Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC)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. 25. Nomination of Candidates In a democratic Election people should have a real choicesand there is no restriction to anyone to contest in theelection. Anyone who can be a voter can also become a candidatein election. The only difference is that in order to be a candidate theminimum age is 25 years, while it is only 18 years forbeing a voter. Another one restriction those who are criminals inextreme case cant contest in the election. The political parties nominate their candidates who get theparty symbols and support. Partys nomination is often called- Party Ticket 26. Recently Supreme Court declared a new direction for the candidates. Every candidates needs to give a legal declaration about1. Serious criminal cases pending against the candidates2. Details of the assets and liabilities of the candidate and his or her family3. Educational qualification of the candidateThis 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 candidate 27. Educational Qualification of the Candidates1. Educational Qualification are not relevant to all kinds of the job. Similarly the relevant qualification for being an MLA or MP is the ability to understand peoples concerns, problems and to represent their interest. Whether they can do so or not is examined by lakhs of examiners- their voters- every five years.2. Even if the education was relevant, it should be left to the people to decide how much importance they give to educational qualifications.3. In India putting an educational qualification would go against the spirit of democracy for yet another reason. It would mean depriving a majority of the countrys citizen the right to contest the election. If any graduate degree 28. Need of Election Campaign in a Democratic form of Government In India election campaigns take place for a two weekperiod between the announcement of the final list ofcandidates and the date of polling. During this period the candidates contact their voters,political leaders address election meetings andpolitical parties mobilise their supporters. Thepublicity is done through news papers, televisionchannels, election meetings, posters etc. In election campaigns, political parties try to focuspublic attention on some big issues for which usuallycatchy slogans are created to attract peoplesattention 29. Demerits of Election Campaign1. It creates a sense of disunity and factionalism in every locality2. Different political parties and leaders often put allegations against one another.3. Parties and Candidates often use dirty tricks to win the election4. Pressure to win electoral fights does not allow sensible long term policies to be formulated5. Some good people who may wish to serve the country do not enter this field. 30. Some Catchy Slogans used by some political parties during the time of Election Garibi Hatao (Remove Poverty)- The Congress party led by Indira Gabdhi 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 31. According to the Election Law the Party and Candidates cant todo.. In democracy it is best to leave political parties and candidates free to conduct their election campaign the way they want to do. But some times necessary to regulate campaigns to ensure that every political party and candidate gets a fair and equal chance to compete. According to our election law, no party or candidate cant to do1. Bribe or threaten voters.2. Appeal to them in the name of Caste and Religion3. Use government resources for election campaign4. Spend more than 25 lakh in a constituency for Lok Sabha electionand 10 lakh in the State 32. According to the Code of Conductthe Parties and Candidates cant todo.In addition to the Election Laws, all the political parties in ourcountry have to agreed to a model Code of Conduct.According to this no party or candidates cant to do1. Use any place of worship for election propaganda2. Use government vehicles, aircrafts and officials forelections.3. Once elections are announced, ministers shall notlay foundation stones of any projects, take any bigpolicy decisions or make any promises of providingpublic facilities 33. What Makes Indian Election Democratic? (Or) How we can say Indian Election is freeand fair?1. Independent Election Commission2. Mass level Popular Participation3. Acceptance of Election Result4. Free and Free Election 34. Independent Election Commission In India elections are conducted by an independent andpowerful autonomous Election Commission. The president of India appointing the Chief ElectionCommissioner (CEC) and two other ElectionCommissioner for a six years of period.It enjoys the same kind of independence that thejudiciary enjoys. But once appointed the Election commission is notanswerable to the president or government. Even if the ruling party or the government does not likewhat commission does, it is impossible for to removethe CEC and they need to obey. 35. Functions of Election Commission in India1. EC takes decision on every aspect of conduct and control of election 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. 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 officials4. When on the election duty, government officers work under the control of the EC and not the government.5. To give an advice to the President on some certain issues. 36. Mass Level Popular participation Peoples participation in election is usually measured byvoter turnout figures. Turnout indicates the percentageof eligible voters who actually cast their vote. In the lastfifty years, the turnout in Europe and North America hasdeclined. In India the turnout has either remained stableor actually gone up. ( See the graph- Figure 1, page No:70) In India illiterate, poor and underprivileged people votein larger portion as compared to rich and privilegedsection. This is a contrast to compare with westerncountries. In USA the poor, Afro Americans andHispanics vote much less than the rich and whitepeople. 37. Common people in India attach a lot of importance toelections. They feel that through elections they can bringpressure on political partries to adopt policies andprogrammes favorable to them. They also feel that theirvote matters in the way things are run in the country (See the diagram - Figure 3, Page No: 71) The interest of the voters in election related activities hasbeen increasing over the years. In 2004 election, morethan one third voters took part in campaign relatedactivities. More than half of the people identifiedthemselves as being close to one or the other politicalparty. One out of every seven voters is member of apolitical party. (See the graph- figure 4, page no: 71) 38. Acceptance of Election ResultIf the election are not free and fair, the outcome always favours the powerful. In such situation the ruling parties do not lose election and losing party does not accept the outcome of a rigged electionThe outcome of Indias election speaks it self1. The ruling parties routinely lose elections in India both at national and state level. Every two out of three elections held in the last fifteen years, the ruling party lost.2. In USA, an incumbent or sitting elected representatives rarely loses an election. In India about half of the sitting MP and MLA lose elections3. Candidate who are known to have spent a lot of money on buying voters and those with criminal connection often lose election 39. Free and Fair ElectionIndian election are basically free and fair. The party thatwins an election and forms government . But in someconstituencies a few candidates may win purely onthe basis of money power and unfair means. But theoverall verdict of a general election still reflectspopular reference. However many limitations andchallenges in Indian election for to conduct the freeand fair election in India. 40. Challenges of free and fair election in India1. 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 rend 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. 41. Short Notes About1. Booth Capturing: Supporters or hired musclemen of party or a candidate gain physical control of a polling booth and cast false votes by threatening everyone or by preventing genuine voters from reaching the polling booth.2. Code of Conduct: A set of norms and guidelines to be followed by political parties and contesting candidates during election time3. Constituency: Voters in a geographical area who elect a representative to the legislative bodies.4. Incumbent: The current holder of a political office. Usually the choices for the voters in elections is between the incumbent party or candidate and those 42. 5. Level Playing Field: Condition in which all parties andcandidates contesting in an election have equalopportunities to appeal for votes and to carry outelection campaign.6. Rigging: Fraud and malpractices indulged by a party orcandidate to increase its votes. It includes stuffing ballotboxes by a few persons using the votes of others;recording multiple votes by the same person; andbribing or coercing polling officers to favour a candidate.7. Turnout : The percentage of eligible voters who casttheir votes in an election