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CHAPTER 3
Electoral
Politics
OVERVIEW
In Chapter 1 we have seen that in a democracy it is neither possible nor
necessary for people to govern directly. 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. We begin by understanding why elections are necessary and
useful in a democracy. We try to understand how electoral competition
among parties serves the people. We then go on to ask what makes an
election democratic. The basic idea here is to distinguish democratic
elections from non-democratic elections.
The rest of the chapter tries to assess elections in India in the light of
this yardstick. We take a look at each stage of elections, from the drawing
of boundaries of different constituencies to the declaration of results. At
each stage we ask what should happen and what does happen in elections.
Towards the end of the chapter, we turn to an assessment of whether
elections in India are free and fair. Here we also examine the role of the
Election Commission in ensuring free and fair elections.
34 DEMOCRATIC POLITICS
2020-21
3.1 WHY ELECTIONS?
Assembly Election in government would waive the loans
H ar y ana of farmers and small businessmen.
He promised that this would be the
The time is after midnight. An expectant first action of his government.
crowd sitting for the past five hours in a The people were unhappy with the
Do most leaders chowk of the town is waiting for its leader existing government. They were also
fulfil their election to come. The organisers assure and reas- attracted by Devi Lal’s promise. So,
promises? sure the crowd that he would be here any when elections were held, they voted
moment. The crowd stands up whenever overwhelmingly in favour of Lok Dal
a passing vehicle comes that way. It and its allies. Lok Dal and its
arouses hopes that he has come. partners won 76 out of 90 seats in
The leader is Mr. Devi Lal, chief of the State Assembly. Lok Dal alone
the Haryana Sangharsh Samiti, who was won 60 seats and thus had a clear
to address a meeting in Karnal on Thurs- majority in the Assembly. The
day night. The 76-year-old leader, is a Congress could win only 5 seats.
very busy man these days. His day starts Once the election results were
at 8 a.m. and ends after 11 p.m. … he announced, the sitting Chief
had already addressed nine election Minister resigned. The newly elected
meetings since morning… been con- Members of Legislative Assembly
stantly addressing public meetings for (MLAs) of Lok Dal chose Devi Lal as
the past 23 months and preparing for this their leader. The Governor invited
election. Devi Lal to be the new Chief
Minister. Three days after the
This newspaper report is about the election results were declared, he
State assembly election in Haryana became the Chief Minister. As soon
in 1987. The State had been ruled by as he became the Chief Minister, his
a Congress party led government Government issued a Government
since 1982. Chaudhary Devi Lal, then Order waiving the outstanding loans
an opposition leader, led a movement of small farmers, agricultural
called ‘Nyaya Yudh’ (Struggle for labourers and small businessmen.
Justice) and formed a new party, Lok His party ruled the State for four
Dal. His party joined other opposition years. The next elections were held
parties to form a front against the in 1991. But this time his party did
Congress in the elections. In the not win popular support. The
election campaign, Devi Lal said that Congress won the election and
if his party won the elections, his formed the government.
Jagdeep and Navpreet read this story and drew the following conclusions. Can you say which of
these are right or wrong (or if the information given in the story is inadequate to call them right or
wrong):
CHECK < Elections can lead to changes in the policy of the government.
< The Governor invited Devi Lal to become the Chief Minister because he was impressed with his
YOUR speeches.
PROGRESS < People are unhappy with every ruling party and vote against it in the next election.
< The party that wins the election forms the government.
< This election led to a lot of economic development in Haryana.
< The Congress Chief Minister need not have resigned after his party lost elections.
ELECTORAL POLITICS 35
2020-21
But can we call this place a
democracy? How do we find out if
A C T I V I T Y the people like their representatives
or not? How do we ensure that these
Do you know when the last Assembly election representatives rule as per the
was held in your state? Which other elections wishes of the people? How to make
have taken place in your locality in the last five sure that those who the people don’t
years? Write down the level of elections (National, like do not remain their
Assembly, Panchayat, etc.), when were they held representatives? This requires a
and the name and designation (MP, MLA, etc.) of mechanism by which people can
the persons who got elected from your area. choose their representatives at
regular intervals and change them
W h y do w
wee nee
needd ele
elecc tions? if they wish to do so. This
Elections take place regularly in mechanism is called election.
any democracy. There are more than Therefore, elections are considered
one hundred countries in the world essential in our times for any
in which elections take place to representative democracy.
choose people’s representatives. We In an election the voters make
also read that elections are held in many choices:
many countries that are not < They can choose who will make
democratic. laws for them. We have seen why
But why do we need elections? < They can choose who will form the democracies need
Let us try to imagine a democracy government and take major to have elections.
without elections. A rule of the decisions. But why do rulers
people is possible without any < They can choose the party whose in non-democratic
elections if all the people can sit policies will guide the government countries need to
together everyday and take all the and law making. hold elections?
decisions. But as we have already
seen in Chapter 1, this is not W ha
hatt mak es an ele
makes elecc tion
possible in any large community. democr
democraa tic?
Nor is it possible for everyone to Elections can be held in many ways.
have the time and knowledge to All democratic countries hold
take decisions on all matters. elections. But most non-democratic
Therefore in most democracies countries also hold some kind of
people rule through their elections. How do we distinguish
representatives. democratic elections from any other
Is there a democratic way of election? We have discussed this
selecting representatives without question briefly in Chapter 1. We
elections? Let us think of a place discussed many examples of
where representatives are selected countries where elections are held
on the basis of age and experience. but they can’t really be called
Or a place where they are chosen democratic elections. Let us recall
on the basis of education or what we learnt there and start with
knowledge. There could be some a simple list of the minimum
difficulty in deciding on who is more conditions of a democratic election:
experienced or knowledgable. But let < First, everyone should be able to
us say the people can resolve these choose. This means that everyone
difficulties. Clearly, such a place should have one vote and every
does not require elections. vote should have equal value.
36 DEMOCRATIC POLITICS
2020-21
< Second, there should be may wish to serve the country do not
something to choose from. Parties enter this arena. They do not like the
and candidates should be free to idea of being dragged into unhealthy
contest elections and should offer competition.
some real choice to the voters. Our Constitution makers were
< Third, the choice should be offered aware of these problems. Yet they
at regular intervals. Elections must opted for free competition in
be held regularly after every few elections as the way to select our
years. future leaders. They did so because
< Fourth, the candidate preferred by this system works better in the long
the people should get elected. run. In an ideal world all political
< Fifth, elections should be leaders know what is good for the
conducted in a free and fair people and are motivated only by a
manner where people can choose desire to serve them. Political
as they really wish. competition is not necessary in such
These might look like very simple an ideal world. But that is not what
and easy conditions. But there are happens in real life. Political leaders
all over the world, like all other
many countries where these are not
professionals, are motivated by a
fulfilled. In this chapter we will apply
desire to advance their political
these conditions to the elections held
careers. They want to remain in
in our own country to see if we can
power or get power and positions for
call these democratic elections.
themselves.They may wish to serve
the people as well, but it is risky to
I s it good ttoo ha
havv e political depend entirely on their sense of
c ompetition? duty. Besides even when they wish
Elections are thus all about political to serve the people, they may not
competition. This competition takes know what is required to do so, or
various forms. The most obvious form their ideas may not match what the
is the competition among political people really want.
parties. At the constituency level, it How do we deal with this real life
takes the form of competition among situation? One way is to try and
several candidates. If there is no improve the knowledge and character
competition, elections will become of political leaders. The other and
pointless. more realistic way is to set up a
But is it good to have political system where political leaders are
competition? Clearly, an electoral rewarded for serving the people and
competition has many demerits. It punished for not doing so. Who
creates a sense of disunity and decides this reward or punishment?
‘factionalism’ in every locality. You The simple answer is: the people.
would have heard of people This is what electoral competition
complaining of ‘party-politics’ in your does. Regular electoral competition
locality. Different political parties and provides incentives to political
Ah! So, elections leaders often level allegations against parties and leaders. They know that
are like exams one another. Parties and candidates if they raise issues that people want
where politicians often use dirty tricks to win elections. to be raised, their popularity and
and parties know if Some people say that this pressure chances of victory will increase in
they have passed to win electoral fights does not allow the next elections. But if they fail to
or failed. But who sensible long-term policies to be satisfy the voters with their work
are the examiners? formulated. Some good people who they will not be able to win again.
ELECTORAL POLITICS 37
2020-21
So if a political party is motivated customers. If he does not, the
only by desire to be in power, even customer will go to some other shop.
then it will be forced to serve the Similarly, political competition may read
people. This is a bit like the way cause divisions and some ugliness, the
market works. Even if a shopkeeper but it finally helps to force political
is interested only in his profit, he is parties and leaders to serve the cartoon
forced to give good service to the people.
Irfan Khan
Read these two cartoons carefully. Write the message of each of them in
your own words. Have a discussion in class on which of the two is closer
to the reality in your own locality. Draw a cartoon to depict what elections
do to the relationship between voters and political leaders.
3.2 WHAT IS OUR SYSTEM OF ELECTIONS?
Can we say that Indian elections are called a by-election. In this chapter
democratic? To answer this question, we will focus on general elections.
let us take a look at how elections are
held in India. Lok Sabha and Vidhan Ele
Elecc t or al cconstituencies
oral onstituencies
Sabha (Assembly) elections are held You read about the people of
regularly after every five years. After Haryana electing 90 MLAs. You may
five years the term of all the elected have wondered how they did that.
representatives comes to an end. The Did every person in Haryana vote for
Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha stands all the 90 MLAs? You perhaps know
‘dissolved’. Elections are held in all that this is not the case. In our
constituencies at the same time, country we follow an area based
either on the same day or within a system of representation. The
few days. This is called a general country is divided into different
election. Sometimes election is held areas for purposes of elections.
only for one constitutency to fill the These areas are called electoral
vacancy caused by death or constitutencies. The voters who live
resignation of a member. This is in an area elect one representative.
38 DEMOCRATIC POLITICS
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For Lok Sabha elections, the country constituency has within it several
is divided into 543 constituencies. assembly constituencies. The same
The representative elected from each principle applies for Panchayat and
constituency is called a Member of Municipal elections. Each village or
Parliament or an MP. One of the town is divided into several ‘wards’
features of a democratic election is that are like constituencies. Each
that every vote should have equal ward elects one member of the
value. That is why our Constitution village or the urban local body.
requires that each constituency Sometimes these constituencies are
should have a roughly equal counted as ‘seats’, for each
population living within it. constituency represents one seat in
Similarly, each state is divided into the assembly. When we say that ‘Lok
a specific number of Assembly Dal won 60 seats’ in Haryana, it
constituencies. In this case, the means that candidates of Lok Dal
elected representative is called the won in 60 assembly constituencies
Member of Legislative Assembly or in the state and thus Lok Dal had
an MLA. Each Parliamentary 60 MLAs in the state assembly.
GULBARGA LOK SABHA CONSTITUENCY GULBARGA (KALABURAGI) DISTRICT
IN KARNATAKA
< Why is the boundary of the Gulbarga Lok Sabha
constituency not the same as the district
boundary of Gulbarga (Kalaburagi)? Draw a
similar map for your own Lok Sabha
constituency.
< How many Assembly constituencies are there
in the Gulbarga Lok Sabha constituency? Is it
the same in your own Lok Sabha
constituency?
ELECTORAL POLITICS 39
2020-21
R eser v e d CConstituencies
onstituencies local bodies are now reserved for
Our Constitution entitles every Other Backward Classes (OBC) as
citizen to elect her/his representative well. However, the proportion of
and to be elected as a representative. seats reserved varies from state to
The Constitution makers, however, state. Similarly, one-third of the
were worried that in an open seats are reserved in rural and
electoral competition, certain urban local bodies for women
weaker sections may not stand a good candidates.
chance to get elected to the Lok Sabha
and the state Legislative Assemblies. Vot ers
ers’’ list
oters
They may not have the required Once the constituencies are decided,
resources, education and contacts to the next step is to decide who can
contest and win elections against and who cannot vote. This decision
others. Those who are influential and cannot be left to anyone till the last
resourceful may prevent them from day. In a democratic election, the list
winning elections. If that happens, of those who are eligible to vote
our Parliament and Assemblies is prepared much before the
would be deprived of the voice of a election and given to everyone. This
significant section of our population. list is officially called the Electoral
That would make our democracy less Roll and is commonly known as the
representative and less democratic. Voters’ List.
So, the makers of our Constitution This is an important step for it is
thought of a special system of linked to the first condition of a
reserved constituencies for the democratic election: everyone
weaker sections. Some constituencies should get an equal opportunity to
are reserved for people who belong choose representatives. Earlier, we
to the Scheduled Castes [SC] and read about the principle of
Scheduled Tribes [ST]. In a SC universal adult franchise. In
reserved constituency only someone practice it means that everyone
who belongs to the Scheduled should have one vote and each vote
Castes can stand for election. should have equal value. No one
Similarly only those belonging to the should be denied the right to vote
Scheduled Tribes can contest an without a good reason. Different
election from a constituency citizens differ from one another in
reserved for ST. Currently, in the many ways: some are rich, some are
Lok Sabha, 84 seats are reserved for poor; some are highly educated,
the Scheduled Castes and 47 for the some are not so educated or not
Scheduled Tribes (as on 26 January educated at all; some are kind,
2019). This number is in proportion others are not so kind. But all of
to their share in the total population. them are human beings with their
Thus the reserved seats for SC and own needs and views. That is why
ST do not take away the legitimate all of them deserve to have an equal Like in Panchayats,
share of any other social group. say in decisions that affect them. should we not have
This system of reservation In our country, all the citizens aged at least one-third
was extended later to other 18 years and above can vote in an seats in the
weaker sections at the district and election. Every citizen has the right parliament and
local level. In many states, seats to vote, regardless of his or her caste, assemblies
in rural (panchayat) and urban religion or gender. Some criminals reserved for
(municipalities and corporations) and persons with unsound mind can women?
40 DEMOCRATIC POLITICS
2020-21
LOK SABHA CONSTITUENCIES
TOTAL CONSTITUENCIES 543
GENERAL 412
RESERVED (SC) 84
RESERVED (ST) 47
STATES CONSTITUENCIES
Andhra Pradesh 25
Arunachal Pradesh 2
Assam 14
Bihar 40
Chhattisgarh 11
Goa 2
Gujarat 26
Haryana 10
Election Commission of India
Himachal Pradesh 4
Jharkhand 14
Karnataka 28
Kerala 20
Madhya Pradesh 29
Maharashtra 48
Manipur 2
Meghalaya 2
Mizoram 1
Nagaland 1 UNION TERRITORIES
Odisha 21
See the map above and answer the following questions. Andaman & Nicobar
Punjab 13 Islands 1
< What is the number of Lok Sabha constituencies in your state and the Rajasthan 25 Chandigarh 1
neighbouring two states? Sikkim 1 Dadra & Nagar Haveli 1
< Which states have more than 30 Lok Sabha constituencies? Tamil Nadu 39 Daman & Diu 1
< Why do some states have such a large number of constituencies? Telangana 17 Delhi 7
Tripura 2 Jammu and Kashmir 5
< Why are some constituencies small in area while others are very big?
Uttar Pradesh 80 Ladakh 1
< Are the constituencies reserved for the SCs and STs evenly spread all Uttarakhand 5 Lakshadweep 1
over the entire country or are there more in some areas? West Bengal 42 Puducherry 1
ELECTORAL POLITICS 41
2020-21
be denied the right to vote, but only Recently, a new system of
in rare situations. It is the declaration has been introduced on
responsibility of the government to direction from the Supreme Court.
get the names of all the eligible Every candidate has to make a legal
voters put on the voters’ list. As new declaration, giving full details of :
persons attain voting age names are < Serious criminal cases pending
added to the voters’ list. Names of against the candidate;
those who move out of a place or < Details of the assets and liabilities
those who are dead are deleted. A of the candidate and his or her
complete revision of the list takes family; and
place every five years. This is done < Educational qualifications of the
to ensure that it remains up to date. candidate.
In the last few years a new system This information has to be made
of Election Photo Identity Card public. This provides an opportunity
[EPIC] has been introduced. The to the voters to make their decision
government has tried to give this on the basis of the information
card to every person on the voters provided by the candidates.
list. The voters are required to carry
this card when they go out to vote, Educational qualifications for
so that no one can vote for someone candidates
else. But the card is not yet
compulsory for voting. For voting, Why is there no educational qualification for
the voters can show many other holding such an important position when some
proofs of identity like the ration card kind of educational qualification is needed for any
or the driving licence. other job in the country?
< Educational qualifications are not relevant to
N omina tion of candida
omination candidatt es all kinds of jobs. The relevant qualification for
We noted above that in a democratic selection to the Indian cricket team, for
election people should have a real example, is not the attainment of educational
choice. This happens only when degrees but the ability to play cricket well.
there are almost no restrictions on Similarly the relevant qualification for being an
anyone to contest an election. This MLA or an MP is the ability to understand
is what our system provides. Any- people’s concerns, problems and to represent
one who can be a voter can also be- their interests. Whether they can do so or not
come a candidate in elections. The is examined by lakhs of examiners — their
only difference is that in order to be voters — after every five years.
a candidate the minimum age is 25 < Even if education was relevant, it should be
years, while it is only 18 years for left to the people to decide how much
being a voter. There are some other impor tance they give to educational
restrictions on criminals etc. but qualifications.
these apply in very extreme cases. < In our countr y putting an educational
Political parties nominate their can- qualification would go against the spirit of
didates who get the party symbol democracy for yet another reason. It would
and support. Party’s nomination is mean depriving a majority of the country’s
often called party ‘ticket’. citizens the right to contest elections. If, for Why are the
Every person who wishes to example, a graduate degree like B.A., B.Com candidates
contest an election has to fill a or B.Sc was made compulsory for candidates, required to give a
‘nomination form’ and give some more than 90 per cent of the citizens will detailed statement
money as ‘security deposit’. become ineligible to contest elections. of their property?
42 DEMOCRATIC POLITICS
2020-21
ELECTORAL POLITICS 43
2020-21Match the following features of our electoral system with the principles they reflect.
Principles Features of election system
Universal adult franchise
Each constituency has roughly the same population CHECK
Representation of
Everyone who is 18 years of age or older has a right to vote
YOUR
weaker sections
PROGRESS
Open political competition Anyone can form a party or contest elections
One vote one value
Reservation of seats for the SCs and the STs
Election Campaign In election campaigns, political
The main purpose of election is to parties try to focus public attention on
give people a chance to choose the some big issues. They want to attract
representatives, the government and the public to that issue and get them
the policies they prefer. Therefore it to vote for their party on that basis. Let
is necessary to have a free and open us look at some of the successful
discussion about who is a better slogans given by different political
representative, which party will parties in various elections.
make a better government or what < The Congress party led by Indira
is a good policy. This is what happens Gandhi gave the slogan of Garibi
during election campaigns. Hatao (Remove poverty) in the
In our country such campaigns Lok Sabha elections of 1971. The
take place for a two-week period party promised to reorient all the
between the announcement of the policies of the government to
final list of candidates and the date remove poverty from the country.
< Save Democracy was the slogan
of polling. During this period the
candidates contact their voters, given by Janata Party under the
political leaders address election leadership of Jayaprakash Narayan,
meetings and political parties in the Lok Sabha election held in
mobilise their supporters. This is 1977. The party promised to undo
also the period when newspapers the excesses committed during
and television news are full of Emergency and restore civil
election related stories and debates. liberties.
But election campaign is not limited < The Left Front used the slogan of
to these two weeks only. Political Land to the Tiller in the West
parties start preparing for elections Bengal Assembly elections held in
months before they actually take 1977.
< ‘Protect the Self-Respect of the
place.
Telugus’ was the slogan used by N.
T. Rama Rao, the leader of the
Telugu Desam Party in Andhra
A C T I V I T Y Pradesh Assembly elections in
1983.
In a democracy it is best to leave
How was the election campaign in your
political parties and candidates free
constituency in the last Lok Sabha elections?
to conduct their election campaigns
Prepare a list of what the candidates and parties
the way they want to. But it is
said and did.
sometimes necessary to regulate
44 DEMOCRATIC POLITICS
2020-21campaigns to ensure that every < Use government vehicles, aircrafts
political party and candidate gets a and officials for elections; and
fair and equal chance to compete. < Once elections are announced,
According to our election law, no Ministers shall not lay foundation
party or candidate can: stones of any projects, take any big
< Bribe or threaten voters; policy decisions or make any
< Appeal to them in the name of promises of providing public facilities.
caste or religion;
< Use government resources for Polling and ccoun
oun ting of vvot
ounting otes
otes
election campaign; and The final stage of an election is the
< Spend more than ` 25 lakh in a day when the voters cast or ‘poll’
constituency for a Lok Sabha election their vote. That day is usually called
or ` 10 lakh in a constituency in an the election day. Every person whose
Assembly election. name is on the voters’ list can go to
If they do so, their election can be a nearby ‘polling booth’, situated
rejected by the court even after they usually in a local school or a
have been declared elected. In government office. Once the voter
addition to the laws, all the political goes inside the booth, the election
parties in our country have agreed officials identify her, put a mark on
to a Model Code of Conduct for her finger and allow her to cast her
election campaigns. According to vote. An agent of each candidate is
this, no party or candidate can: allowed to sit inside the polling
< Use any place of worship for booth and ensure that the voting
election propaganda; takes place in a fair way.
Draw a cartoon here about the Model Code of Conduct Are the elections too expensive
for our country?
for the guidance of political parties and candidates
during elections. A large amount of money is spent in conducting
elections in India. For instance, the government
spent about `3,500 crores in conducting Lok Sabha
elections in 2014. That works out to about `40 per
person on the voters’ list. The amount spent by
parties and candidates was more than what the
government spent. Roughly speaking, the
expenditure made by government, parties and
candidates was around `30,000 crores or `500
per voter.
Some people say that elections are a burden
on our people, that our poor country cannot afford
to hold elections once every five years. Let us
compare this expenditure with some other figures:
< In 2005, our government decided to buy six
nuclear submarines from France. Each subma-
rine cost about `3,000 crores.
< Delhi hosted the Commonwealth Games in
2010. The estimate for its cost is around
`20,000 crores.
Are the elections too expensive? You decide.
ELECTORAL POLITICS 45
2020-21Election result in Gulbarga
Let us go back to our example of Gulbarga. In 2014, a total of 8 candidates contested elections in that
constituency. The total eligible voters were 17.21 lakhs. Of these 9.98 lakh voters had cast their votes.
The candidate of the Congress party, Mallikarjun Kharge secured about 5.07 lakh votes. This was 50.82
percent of the total votes polled. But since he had secured more votes than anyone else, he was
declared elected a Member of Parliament from Gulbarga Lok Sabha constituency.
Election Result of Gulbarga constituency, GENERAL ELECTION TO LOK SABHA, 2014
CANDIDATE PARTY VOTES POLLED % OF VOTES
D.G. Sagar JD(S) 15690 1.57
Mallikarjun Kharge INC 507193 50.82
Danni Mahadev B. BSP 11428 1.14
Revunaik Belamagi BJP 432460 43.33
B.T. Lalitha Naik AAAP 9074 0.91
S.M. Sharma SUCI 4943 0.50
Shankar Jadhav BHPP 2877 0.29
Ramu IND 4085 0.41
None of the Above NOTA 9888 0.99
Why are party
< What is the percentage of voters who had actually cast their votes? agents present in
< To win an election is it necessary for a person to secure more than half the votes polled? the polling booth
and the counting
centre?
Earlier the voters used to indicate secure place. A few days later, on a
who they wanted to vote for by putting fixed date, all the EVMs from a
a stamp on the ballot paper. A ballot constituency are opened and the
paper is a sheet of paper on which votes secured by each candidate are
the names of the contesting counted. The agents of all candidates
candidates along with party name are present there to ensure that the
and symbols are listed. Nowadays counting is done properly. The
electronic voting machines (EVM) are candidate who secures the highest
used to record votes. The machine number of votes from a constituency
shows the names of the candidates is declared elected. In a general
and the party symbols. Independent election, usually the counting of votes
candidates too have their own in all the constituencies takes place
symbols, allotted by election commission. at the same time, on the same day.
All that the voter has to do is to press Television channels, radio and
the button against the name of the newspapers report this event. Within
candidate she wants to give her vote. a few hours of counting, all the results
Once the polling is over, all the are declared and it becomes clear as
EVMs are sealed and taken to a to who will form the next government.
Identify the fair and the unfair electoral practices among the following:
< A minister flags off a new train in his constituency a week before polling day.
< A candidate promises that she will get a new train for her constituency if she is elected. CHECK
< Supporters of a candidate take the voters to a temple and make them take an oath that they
will vote for him.
YOUR
< The supporters of a candidate distribute blankets in slums in return for a promise for vote. PROGRESS
46 DEMOCRATIC POLITICS
2020-213.3 WHAT MAKES ELECTIONS IN INDIA
DEMOCRATIC?
We get to read a lot about unfair Election Commissioner (CEC) is
practices in elections. Newspapers appointed by the President of India.
and television reports often refer to But once appointed, the Chief
such allegations. Most of these Election Commissioner is not
reports are about the following: answerable to the President or the
< Inclusion of false names and government. Even if the ruling party
exclusion of genuine names in the or the government does not like what
voters’ list; the Commission does, it is virtually
< Misuse of government facilities impossible for it to remove the CEC.
and officials by the ruling party; Very few election commissions in
< Excessive use of money by rich the world have such wide-ranging
candidates and big parties; and powers as the Election Commission
< Intimidation of voters and rigging of India.
on the polling day. < EC takes decisions on every aspect
Many of these reports are correct. of conduct and control of elections
We feel unhappy when we read or from the announcement of
see such reports. But fortunately elections to the declaration of
they are not on such a scale so as to results.
defeat the very purpose of elections. < It implements the Code of
This becomes clear if we ask a basic Conduct and punishes any
question: Can a party win an candidate or party that violates it.
election and come to power not < During the election period, the EC
because it has popular support but can order the government to follow
through electoral malpractices? This some guidelines, to prevent use
For more details about
is a vital question. Let us carefully and misuse of governmental power
the Election Commission
examine various aspects of this to enhance its chances to win
of India,
question. elections, or to transfer some
visit government officials.
https://eci.gov.in < When on election duty, govern-
Independen
Independentt Ele
Elecc tion ment officers work under the con-
C ommission trol of the EC and not the govern-
One simple way of checking whether
ment.
elections are fair or not is to look at
In the last 25 years or so, the
who conducts the elections. Are they
Election Commission has begun to
independent of the government? Or
exercise all its powers and even
can the government or the ruling party
expand them. It is very common now
influence or pressurise them? Do they for the Election Commission to
have enough powers to be able to reprimand the government and
conduct free and fair elections? Do administration for their lapses. When
they actually use these powers? election officials come to the opinion
The answer to all these questions that polling was not fair in some booths
Why does the is quite positive for our country. In or even an entire constituency, they
Election our country elections are conducted order a repoll. The ruling parties often
Commission have by an independent and very powerful do not like what the EC does. But they
so much powers? Election Commission (EC). It enjoys have to obey. This would not have
Is this good for the same kind of independence that happened if the EC was not
democracy? the judiciary enjoys. The Chief independent and powerful.
ELECTORAL POLITICS 47
2020-21Photo I-cards not mandatory in Biha
EC issues notification constituting 14th polls r
Lok Sabha CHECK
EC tightens norms for poll expenses EC accepts new Haryana DGP YOUR
EC will seek power to censure PROGRESS
political ads
again, review poll
EC to visit Gujarat
arrangements EC says no immediate plan to ban
Exit Polls
HC asks EC to bar ‘criminal’ netas
EC shoots down HM advic 398 more booths
e on EC orders repoll in
poll reforms
EC to keep closer eye on hidden
poll costs
Read these headlines carefully and identify which powers are used by the Election Commission in each
instance to ensure free and fair elections.
Popular par ticipa tion
ticipation 1 People’s participation in election
Another way to check the quality of is usually measured by voter
the election process is to see turnout figures. Turnout indicates
whether people participate in it with the per cent of eligible voters who
enthusiasm. If the election process actually cast their vote. Over the
is not free or fair, people will not last fifty years, the turnout in
continue to participate in the Europe and North America has
exercise. Now, read these charts declined. In India the turnout has
and draw some conclusions about either remained stable or actually
participation in India: gone up.
1 VOTER TURNOUT IN INDIA AND THE UK
90
UK
80 78 INDIA
72
VOTER TURNOUT (%)
70 66
66
60 62 60
58 59
56
50
40
30
20
10
1991 2015
ELECTION YEAR
48 DEMOCRATIC POLITICS
2020-212 In India the poor, illiterate and 4 The interest of voters in election-
underprivileged people vote in related activities has been
larger proportion as compared to increasing over the years. During
the rich and privileged sections. the 2004 elections, more than one-
This is in contrast to western third voters took part in a
democracies. For example in the campaign-related activities. More
United States of America, poor than half of the people identified
people, African Americans and themselves as being close to one
Hispanics vote much less than the or the other political party. One
rich and the white people. out of every seven voters is a
member of a political party.
2 VOTER TURNOUT IN INDIA AND US BY SOCIAL GROUPS, 2004 4 THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN ANY
ELECTION RELATED ACTIVITY IN INDIA
INDIA US Source: National Election Study 1996-2004, CSDS.
70
60 61 60
56 58 56
VOTER TURNOUT (%)
60
40 32
50
30
21
(%)
40
28 20 13
30 8
10
20
1996 1998 1999 2004
10
ELECTION YEAR
Upper OBC SC ST White Black Hispanic
Caste
SOCIAL GROUPS
A C T I V I T Y
Source: Figures for India 3 Common people in India attach a
from National Election
lot of importance to elections.
Study 2004, CSDS. Ask the eligible voters in your family whether they
Figures for US from They feel that through elections
voted in the last election to the Lok Sabha or to
National Election Study they can bring pressure on
2004, University of the state assembly. If they did not, ask them why
political parties to adopt policies
Michigan. did they not vote. If they did, ask them which party
and programmes favourable to
and candidate they voted for and why. Also ask
them. They also feel that their vote
them whether they had participated in any other
matters in the way things are run
election-related activity like attending an election
in the country.
meeting or rally etc.
3 DO YOU THINK YOUR VOTE MAKES A DIFFERENCE?
Acceptance of election
outcome
15%
One final test of the free and fairness
of election has in the outcome itself.
18%
67% If elections are not free or fair, the
Has effect
outcome always favours the powerful.
Has no effect In such a situation, the ruling parties
Source: National Election
Study 2004, CSDS. Don’t know do not lose elections. Usually, the
ELECTORAL POLITICS 49
2020-21losing party does not accept the
outcome of a rigged election.
The outcome of India’s elections
speaks for itself:
< The ruling parties routinely lose
elections in India both at the
national and state level. In fact in
every two out of the three elections
held in the last 25 years, the
ruling party lost.
< In the US, an incumbent or ‘sitting’
elected representative rarely loses
Irfan Khan
an election. In India about half of
the sitting MPs or MLAs lose
elections.
< Candidates who are known to have
spent a lot of money on ‘buying
votes’ and those with known
criminal connections often lose
The leader is coming out of a press
conference: “What was the need to say that we
read
elections.
< Barring very few disputed
have distributed tickets only amongst suitable the
and winnable family relations?” Do you think
elections, the electoral outcomes that family politics is confined to only a few
cartoon
are usually accepted as ‘people’s states or parties?
verdict’ by the defeated party.
Titled ‘Electoral
C hallenges ttoo fr ee and fair
free Campaigns’, this
ele
elecc tions cartoon was drawn in
All this leads to a simple conclusion: Questions of this kind bring the
the Latin American
elections in India are basically free many limitations and challenges of
context. Does this
and fair. The party that wins an elec- Indian elections to our attention.
apply to India
tion and forms government does so These include :
and to other
because people have chosen it over democracies
its rivals. This may not be true for in the world?
every constituency. A few candidates
may win purely on the basis of
©Nerilicon, El Economista, Cagle Cartoons Inc.
money power and unfair means. But
the overall verdict of a general elec-
tion still reflects popular preference.
There are very few exceptions to this
rule in the last 60 years in our
country. This is what makes Indian
elections democratic.
Yet the picture looks different if we
ask deeper questions: Are people’s
preferences based on real knowledge?
Are the voters getting a real choice?
Is election really level playing field
for everyone? Can an ordinary
citizen hope to win elections?
50 DEMOCRATIC POLITICS
2020-21Is this an accurate
picture of what
happens to the voter
before and after
elections? Must this
always happen in a
democracy? Can you
think of examples
when this did not
happen?
read
the
R.K. Laxman, The Times of India
cartoon
< Candidates and parties with a lot similar to each other both in
of money may not be sure of their policies and practice.
victory but they do enjoy a big and < Smaller parties and independent
unfair advantage over smaller candidates suffer a huge
parties and independents. disadvantage compared to bigger
< In some parts of the country, parties.
candidates with criminal connection These challenges exist not just in
have been able to push others out of India but also in many established
the electoral race and to secure a democracies. These deeper issues
‘ticket’ from major parties. are a matter of concern for those who
< Some families tend to dominate believe in democracy. That is why
political parties; tickets are citizens, social activists and
distributed to relatives from these organisations have been demanding
families. reforms in our electoral system. Can
< Very often elections offer little you think of some reforms? What
choice to ordinary citizens, for can an ordinary citizen do to face
both the major parties are quite these challenges?
Here are some facts on Indian elections. Comment on each of these to say whether they reflect the
strength or the weakness of our electoral system:
< The 16th Lok Sabha has 12 per cent women members.
CHECK < The Election Commission often refuses to accept the government’s advice about when the elections
should be held.
YOUR < The 16th Lok Sabha has more than 440 members whose assets are more than Rs.1 crore.
PROGRESS < After losing an election the Chief Minister said: “I respect the people’s verdict”.
ELECTORAL POLITICS 51
2020-21Code of Conduct: A set of norms and guidelines to be followed by
political parties and contesting candidates during election time.
Constituency: Voters in a geographical area who elect a representative to GLOSSARY
the legislative bodies.
Incumbent: The current holder of a political office. Usually the choice for
the voters in elections is between the incumbent party or candidate and
those who oppose them.
Level playing field: Condition in which all parties and candidates
contesting in an election have equal opportunities to appeal for votes and
to carry out election campaign.
Rigging: Fraud and malpractices indulged by a party or candidate to
increase its votes. It includes stuffing ballot boxes by a few persons using
the votes of others; recording multiple votes by the same person; and
bribing or coercing polling officers to favour a candidate.
Turnout: The percentage of eligible voters who cast their votes in an election.
1 Which of the following statements about the reasons for conducting
elections are false? exercises
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.
2 Which of these is not a good reason to say that Indian elections are
democratic?
a India has the largest number 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.
3 Match the following :
a It is necessary to keep the voters i there is a fair representation of
list up to date because all sections of our society
b Some constituencies are ii everyone has equal
reserved for SCs and STs so opportunity to elect their
that representative
c Everyone has one and only one iii all candidates must have a fair
vote so that chance of competing in
elections
d Party in power is not allowed to iv some people may have moved
use government vehicles away from the area where they
because voted last
52 DEMOCRATIC POLITICS
2020-21exercises
4 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.
5 Surekha is an officer in-charge of ensuring free and fair elections in
an assembly constituency in a state. Describe what should she focus
on for each of the following stages of election:
a Election campaign
b Polling day
c Counting day
6 The table below gives the proportion of different communities among
the candidates who won elections to the US Congress. Compare these
to the proportion of these communities in the population of the US.
Based on this, would you suggest a system of reservations in the US
Congress? If yes, why and for which communities? If no, why not?
Proportion of the community
(in per cent) in the
House of Population of US
representatives
Blacks 8 13
Hispanics 5 13
Whites 86 70
7 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.
8 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?
9 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
ELECTORAL POLITICS 53
2020-21him elected. The court later found out that more than five lakh exercises
votes cast for one candidate were counted in favour of another.
b Just before 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 its 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.
10 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 due attention in Doordarshan and All India Radio.
c An inquiry by the Election Commission showed that electoral rolls
of a state contain name 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.
11 Ramesh was not in class when this chapter was being taught. He
came the next day and repeated 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 to. 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.
Assembly elections are usually held every year in a few states of the
country. You can collect information about the elections that take place
during this session. While collecting news items, divide these into three
parts:
< Important events that took place before the election – main agenda
discussed by political parties; information about people’s demand;
role of the Election Commission.
< Important events on the day of the election and counting – turnout
in elections; reports of malpractice; re-polls; the types of predictions
made; and the final outcome.
< Post elections – reasons offered by political parties for winning or
losing elections; analysis of the election verdict by the media;
selection of the Chief Minister.
54 DEMOCRATIC POLITICS
2020-21National Voters’ Day (NVD) Pledge
We, the citizens of India, having abiding faith in
democracy, hereby pledge to uphold the democratic
traditions of our country and the dignity of free, fair
and peaceful elections, and to vote in every election
fearlessly and without being influenced by
considerations of religion, race, caste, community,
language or any inducement. Is Electoral Literacy Club (ELC) functioning in
your school? For details about Systematic Voters’
Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP)
How did your school celebrate the National Voters’ Day programme of the Election Commission of India,
on 25th January? Did you take the NVD Pledge? visit http://ecisveep.nic.in
The tableau of the Election Commission of India passes through the Rajpath, New Delhi, on the occasion
of the 67th Republic Day Parade in 2016.
55
2020-21You can also read
