03. ELECTORAL POLITICS

Class-09 (notes)

CONCEPTS:

Need of Election:-

Elections are a democratic way of selecting representatives. They ensure that the representatives rule as per the wishes of the people.

Elections help voters to choose representatives who will make laws for them, form the government and take Major decisions. The voters can choose the party whose policies will guide the government and law making. Thus election is a mechanism by which people can choose their representatives at regular intervals and change them if they wish to.

What Makes an Election Democratic?

Everyone should be able to choose, i.e. everyone should have one vote and every vote should have equal value. Universal Adult Franchise There should be parties and candidates to choose from, freedom to contest and a wide choice for people. Elections must be held at regular intervals. Candidate preferred by the people should be elected. Elections should be held in a fair and free atmosphere to be democratic.

Political Competition:-

Demerits:-

1.Creates a sense of disunity and ‘party politics’.
2.Parties level allegations against each other of using dirty tricks to win elections.
3.Long-term policies cannot be formulated.
4.Good people do not enter politic

Merits:-

Elections are good because they force the ruling party to perform. The government is aware that it will be voted out of power if it does not perform as the people expected it forces parties and leaders to perform, so competition is good.

Our Election System:-

1. First a voters list is compiled.

2. Then the election date is announced.
3. The country is divided into constituencies for purpose of elections.
4. The voters have to elect one representative for the Lok Sabha from each constituency (Lok Sabha has 543 constituencies), called Member of Parliament. The constituencies are formed on basis of population.
Similarly, each state is divided into constituencies and a specific number of members called Members of the Legislative Assembly are elected.
5. The dates of General Elections are announced

Each party declares its Manifesto and prepares a list of nominations. The people behind them. But in non-democratic countries elections are not free or fair (as in Mugabe’s Zimbabwe) or allow everyone to vote (as in China). You have to be a member of the Chinese Communist Party to be able to vote.

MCQ [1 MARK]

Q.1.Who led the ‘Nyaya Yudh’?
(a) Chaudhary Charan Singh

(b) Chaudhary Devi Lal
(c) Ajit Singh

(d) None of these

Q.2.What is meant by the term ‘constituency’?
(a) Place where the copy of constitution is kept
(b) A particular area from where voters elect a representative to the Lok Sabha / Vidhan Sabha
(c) A body of voters
(d) None of the above

Q.3.In India, elections for which of these bodies are held after every five years?
(a) Rajya Sabha

(b) Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha
(c) Vidhan Parishad

(d) Only Lok Sabha
Q.4. Elections held after the term of 5 years of Lok Sabha are called-
(a) Mid-term elections

(b) General elections
(c) By-elections

(d) Special elections

Q.5. Into how many constituencies is the country divided for Lok Sabha elections?
(a) 544

(b) 543

(d) 535

Q.6. How many seats are reserved in Lok Sabha for the Scheduled Tribes?
(a) 40

(b) 41

(d) 71
Q.7. Name the body which conducts the elections in India
(a) Supreme Court

(b) Parliament
(c) Cabinet

(d) Election Commission

Q.8. How is the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) chosen?
(a) Appointed by the President

(b) Elected by the people
(c) Elected by the MPs

(d) Elected by MPs and MLAs

Q.9.The Election Commission is:
(a) An elected body

(b) An appointed body
(c) An independent body

(d) both (b) and (c)

Q.10.What is the age of a person who can contest election for the Lok Sabha in India?
(a) 25 years

(b) 30 years

(d) 40 years

Q.11. Voter’s List is also known as:
(a) Election Number

(b) Voter Identity Card
(c) Electoral Roll

(d) None of these

SHORT QUESTIONS [3 MARKS]

Q.1. Mention the provisions laid down under the Model Code of Conduct to regulate the election campaign.

Ans. According to the Model Code of Conduct, no party can:
1.Use any place of worship for election propaganda.
2.Use government vehicles, aircraft 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.

Q.2. What is the choices that voters make in an election?

Ans. In an election, the voters make many choices:
1.They can choose who will make laws for them.
2.They can choose who will form the government and take major decisions.
3.They can choose the party whose policies will guide the government and law-making.

Q.3. In which way does the Election Commission enjoy the same kind of independence as the judiciary?

Ans. The Election Commission enjoys the same kind of independence that the judiciary enjoys. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is appointed by the President of India. But once appointed, he is not answerable to the President or the government. Even if the ruling party or the government does not like what the Commission does, it is virtually impossible for it to remove the CEC.

Q.4. Mention any three techniques of election campaign.

Ans.1.Candidates contact their voters

2.They address election meetings
3.Use newspapers and TV for publicity

Q.5. Discuss the importance of elections in a democracy.

Ans. Elections give people a chance to choose the representatives the government and policies they prefer. The democratic way of selecting representatives can be had by holding elections. The voters can make their choice.

Q.6. Discuss the importance of an election manifesto.

Ans. An election manifesto is a statement by a political party explaining its policies, saying what they will do if they win the election.

Q.7.What is a reserved constituency? How does it strengthen democracy?

Ans. In a reserved constituency only someone who belongs to the scheduled caste or scheduled tribe community can stand for election. In the Lok Sabha, 79 seats are reserved for SC and 41 for ST Communities. This reservation system makes our democracy a representative democracy

Q.8.What is the demerits of political competition?

Ans. The political competition has many demerits –
1.It creates a sense of disunity and factionalism in every locality. Different political parties and leaders often level allegations against one another. Parties and candidates often use dirty tricks to win elections.
2.This pressure to win electoral fights does not allow sensible long-term policies to be formulated.
3. Some good people who wish to serve the country do not enter this area as they do not like to be dragged into unhealthy competition.

LONG QUESTIONS [5MARKS]

Q.1. State how the elections are held in India?

Ans.1.For elections, the country is divided into different areas called ‘electoral constituencies’.
2. The voters who live in an area elect one representative.
3. For Lok Sabha elections, the country is divided into 543 constituencies.
4. The representative elected from each constituency is called a
Member of Parliament (MP).
Similarly, each state is divided into Assembly constituencies. In this case, the elected representative is called the Member of Legislative Assembly(MLA).

Q.2. How can you say that very few Election Commissions in the world have such wide ranging powers as the Election Commission of India?

Ans.1.Election Commission takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections.

2.It implements the code of conduct and punishes any candidate or party that violates it.
3.During the election period, the EC can order the government to follow some guidelines, To prevent use and misuse of governmental power to enhance its chances to win elections, Or to transfer some government officials.
4.When on election duty, government officers work under the control of the EC and not the government.

Q.3. Explain how the outcome of elections is a final test of free and fair elections.

Ans.1.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 so far, the ruling party lost.

2.In the US, an incumbent or ‘sitting’ elected representative rarely loses an election. In India, about half of the sitting MPs or MLAs lose elections.
3.Candidates who are known to have spent a lot of money on ‘buying votes’ and those with known criminal connections often lose elections.

Q.4.What is the main functions of the Election Commission of India?

Ans.1.It takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of election

2. It implements code of conduct. It orders guidelines for the government to prevent misuse of power to win elections.
3. It EC feels unfairness in polling it orders a repoll.

Q.5.What is some of the activities undertaken by political parties to carry out election campaign?

Ans. 1. In election campaigns, political parties try to focus public attention on some big issues, e.g., the Congress party led by Indira Gandhi gave the slogan of "Gharibi Hatao" in the Lok Sabha elections of 1971. "Save Democracy" was the slogan of Janata Party in the Lok Sabha election of 1977.
2.Secondly, political leaders contact their voters, address election meetings, and promise to remove the grievances of the people.
3.Thirdly, support of media – TV Channels and newspaper columns – is also taken by the political parties to further their cause to gather more votes.

Q.6. Explain the nomination process as practised in Indian elections.

Ans.1.Every candidate who wishes to contest an election has to fill a nomination form and give some money as deposit.

2.According to recent directive from Supreme Court every candidate has to make a legal declaration giving full details of assets liabilities, educational qualification & details of any serious criminal cases pending against them.

Q.7. Describe any four demerits of electoral competition.

Ans. An electoral competition has many demerits.
1. It creates a sense of disunity and factionalism.
2. Different political parties level allegations against each other’s.
3. Long-term policies cannot be formulated.
4. Some good people who wish to serve do not enter this arena.

Q.8. Explain any four conditions that make an election democratic.

Ans.1.Every section of citizens should get equal representation.

2. Everyone should get an equal opportunity to choose representatives.
3.Voters' list which is revised every five year.
4. Election Photo-Identity Card.

Q.9. What is a reserved constituency? Why did India introduce this system?

Ans. in a reserved constituency only someone who belongs to the SC/ST or weaker section can stand for election. This was done to give a fair representation to the weaker section that did not stand a good chance to get elected to the Lok Sabha.

Q.10. Explain any four challenges faced by election system in India.

Ans.1.A few candidates may win purely on the basis of money power sun four wean.
2.Are peoples preferences based on real knowledge.
3.Are the voters getting a real choice?
4.Is Election legally level playing field for everyone?

Q.11. Explain any four powers enjoyed by Election Commission in India.

Ans. 1.Election Commission takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections from announcement of elections to declaration of results.

2.It implements the code of conduct and punishes any candidate or party that violates it.
3.During Elections EC can order the government to follow some guidelines to use/misuse governmental power, its chances to win.
4.When on election duty, government officials work under control of EC.

Q.12.What is Secret Ballot System? Give three reasons why Secret Ballot System is good.
Ans. A ballot paper is a sheet of paper on which the names of the contesting candidates along with party names and symbol are listed.
1.The voter can vote in secretaries.
2.The voter feels secure, safe and fearless.
3.The voter is free of threat and coercion.

Q.13.What is the conditions which make an election democratic?
Ans.1. The presence of an independent and very powerful Election Commission (EC). It enjoys the same kind of independence that the judiciary does.
2.The Chief Election Commissioner is not answerable to the President or the government.
3.It is virtually impossible to remove the CEC, once he is appointed.
4.When election officials come to the opinion that polling was not fair in some booths or even in an entire constituency, they order a repoll.

Q.14. Enumerate any four challenges to free and fair elections.
Ans.1.Inclusion of false names and exclusion of genuine names in the voters list.
2.Misuse of government facilities and officials in ruling party.
3.Excessive use of money by rich candidates and big parties.
4.Intimidation of voters and rigging on the polling day.

HOTS

Q.1. Why is there a provision of reservation of seats in the legislatures?
Ans.1.The constitution makers were worried that in an open electoral competition, certain weaker sections may not stand a good chance to get elected to the Lok sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.
2.They may not have the required resources, education and contacts to contest and win elections against the more influential contestants. So seats are reserved for them in the legislature.
Q.2.What is the check on the political leaders which makes them serve the people?
Ans.1.The check on the political leaders comes from the need to serve the people if they want to win the next elections. Regular electoral competition provides incentives to political parties and leaders.
2.They know that if they raise issues that people want to be raised, their popularity and chances of victory will increase in the next elections.
3.But if they fail to satisfy the voters with their work, they will not be able to win again.

Q.3.What is the trends of popular participation in India?
Ans. The trends of popular participation in India are:
1. People’s participation in election is usually measured by voter turnout figures. In India the turnout over all these years has either remained stable or gone up.
2. In India, the poor illiterate and underprivileged people vote in larger proportion as compared to rich sections.
3.Common people in India attach a lot of importance to elections as they feel that through elections they can bring pressure on political parties to adopt policies favouring them.

03. ELECTORAL POLITICS