The general election in India is a process of electing representatives to the Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha through a universal adult franchise.
General Election in India for Students
India is the largest democracy in the world, with over 1.3 billion people and more than 900 million eligible voters. India has a parliamentary system of government, where the people elect their representatives to the Lok Sabha (the lower house of Parliament) and the Vidhan Sabha (the state legislative assembly). The general election is the process of electing these representatives through a universal adult franchise. In this essay, we will discuss the features, importance, challenges, and examples of general election in India for students.
Features of General Election in India
The general election in India has some distinctive features that make it unique and remarkable. Some of these features are:
Periodicity: The general election in India is held every five years, unless the Lok Sabha or the Vidhan Sabha is dissolved earlier. The term of the Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha is five years from the date of its first meeting. The President of India can dissolve the Lok Sabha before its term expires on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Governor of a state can dissolve the Vidhan Sabha before its term expires on the advice of the Chief Minister.
Simultaneity: The general election in India can be held simultaneously or separately for the Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is the constitutional authority that decides when and how to conduct the general election. The ECI can hold simultaneous elections for both the Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha if their terms are due to expire around the same time. The ECI can also hold separate elections for either the Lok Sabha or the Vidhan Sabha if their terms are not synchronized or if they are dissolved prematurely.
Multi-party system: The general election in India is based on a multi-party system, where several political parties compete for power and representation. There are two types of political parties in India: national parties and state parties. National parties are those that have a presence in more than four states and have secured at least 6% of the valid votes in four or more states in a general election. State parties are those that have a presence in only one state or a few states and have secured at least 6% of the valid votes in one state or at least 2% of the seats in a state assembly in a general election.
First-past-the-post system: The general election in India is based on a first-past-the-post system, where the candidate who secures the highest number of votes in a constituency wins the seat. A constituency is a geographical area that elects one representative to the Lok Sabha or the Vidhan Sabha. There are 543 constituencies for the Lok Sabha and about 4,120 constituencies for the Vidhan Sabha. Each constituency has a fixed number of voters who are registered in an electoral roll. Each voter can cast one vote for one candidate in a constituency.
Importance of General Election in India
The general election in India is important for several reasons. First, it is a means of expressing the will and choice of the people. The people can elect their representatives who can voice their interests and concerns in Parliament or state assemblies. The people can also hold their representatives accountable for their actions and performance by voting them out or re-electing them.
Second, it is a way of ensuring democracy and governance. The general election ensures that the government is formed by the majority party or coalition that has secured more than half of the seats in the Lok Sabha or the Vidhan Sabha. The government is responsible for making laws and policies that affect the lives and welfare of the people. The government is also subject to checks and balances by the opposition parties, the judiciary, and other institutions.
Third, it is a mode of fostering diversity and inclusion. The general election reflects the diversity and plurality of India’s society and culture. The people can elect representatives from different regions, religions, languages, castes, genders, etc. The general election also ensures that some constituencies are reserved for candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), or other backward classes (OBCs) to provide them with adequate representation and empowerment.
Challenges of General Election in India
The general election in India also faces some challenges that need to be addressed and overcome. Some of these challenges are:
Cost and logistics: The general election in India is a massive and expensive exercise that requires a lot of resources and coordination. According to an estimate by ECI, the cost of conducting the 2019 general election was about Rs 50,000 crore1. Moreover, conducting a free and fair election requires deploying millions of personnel, security forces, electronic voting machines (EVMs), vehicles, etc. across thousands of polling stations spread over diverse terrains and climatic conditions.
Corruption and malpractices: The general election in India is also marred by corruption and malpractices that undermine its credibility and integrity. Some of these malpractices include vote buying, booth capturing, impersonation, intimidation, violence, etc. These malpractices are often perpetrated by candidates, political parties, or their supporters to influence the voters or the outcome of the election. These malpractices also violate the code of conduct and the model code of conduct issued by ECI to regulate the conduct of candidates and political parties during the election.
Polarization and fragmentation: The general election in India is also influenced by polarization and fragmentation of the electorate along various lines such as religion, caste, region, language, etc. These factors often determine the voting preferences and behavior of the voters and affect the formation and stability of the government. These factors also create divisions and conflicts among different groups and communities and hamper the social harmony and national integration of the country.
Examples of General Election in India
The general election in India has been held 17 times since independence in 1947. Here are some examples of general election in India for students:
- 1952: The first general election in India was held in 1951-52, after the adoption of the Constitution of India in 1950. It was a landmark event in the history of democracy as it involved about 173 million voters who elected 489 members to the Lok Sabha and about 3,283 members to the state assemblies. The Indian National Congress (INC) emerged as the dominant party by winning 364 seats in the Lok Sabha and forming governments in most of the states. Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of India.
- 1977: The sixth general election in India was held in 1977, after the end of the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi in 1975. It was a historic event as it marked the first time that the INC was defeated by a coalition of opposition parties called the Janata Party. The Janata Party won 295 seats in the Lok Sabha and formed the first non-Congress government at the Centre. Morarji Desai became the Prime Minister of India.
- 1984: The eighth general election in India was held in 1984, after the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards in October 1984. It was a tragic event that triggered a wave of sympathy and support for the INC led by her son Rajiv Gandhi. The INC won a landslide victory by securing 414 seats in the Lok Sabha, which is still a record for any party or coalition. Rajiv Gandhi became the Prime Minister of India.
- 1996: The eleventh general election in India was held in 1996, after the collapse of the Congress government led by P.V. Narasimha Rao due to various scandals and allegations. It was a chaotic event as it resulted in a hung Parliament with no party or coalition getting a clear majority. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the single largest party by winning 161 seats in the Lok Sabha, but could not form a stable government. Atal Bihari Vajpayee became the Prime Minister of India for only 13 days, as he failed to prove his majority in a floor test. The United Front, a coalition of regional parties, formed the government with outside support from INC and CPI(M). H.D. Deve Gowda became the Prime Minister of India.
- 2014: The sixteenth general election in India was held in 2014, after a decade of rule by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), a coalition led by INC. It was a decisive event as it witnessed a historic mandate for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), a coalition led by BJP. The BJP won an absolute majority by securing 282 seats in the Lok Sabha, which is the first time for any party since 1984. Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India.
Conclusion
The general election in India is a process of electing representatives to the Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha through a universal adult franchise. The general election has some distinctive features such as periodicity, simultaneity, multi-party system, and first-past-the-post system. The general election is important for expressing the will and choice of the people, ensuring democracy and governance, and fostering diversity and inclusion. The general election also faces some challenges such as cost and logistics, corruption and malpractices, and polarization and fragmentation. The general election also provides some examples such as 1952, 1977, 1984, 1996, and 2014 that illustrate its implementation and impact in practice. Therefore, it is essential for students to learn about the general election in India and its implications for the present and future of society.
