What are the challenges to free and fair elections in India?

Answer:
The elections in India are basically free and fair. But, a few candidates may win purely
based on money power and unfair means. These challenges exist not just in India but
also in many established democracies. These deeper issues are a matter of concern for
those who believe in democracy. The challenges to free and fair elections in India are as
follows.

● Candidates and parties with a lot of money may not be sure of their victory
but they do enjoy a big and unfair advantage over smaller parties and
independents.
● In some parts of the country, candidates with criminal connection have
been able to push others out of the electoral race and to secure a ‘ticket’
from major parties.
● Some families tend to dominate political parties; tickets are distributed to
relatives from these families.
● 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.
● Smaller parties and independent candidates suffer a huge disadvantage
compared to bigger parties.

Question 2.
How can you say that the outcome of elections is a final test of free and fair elections?
Explain
Answer:
One final test of the free and fair of election has in the outcome itself. If elections are
not free or fair, the outcome always favours the powerful. In such a situation, the ruling
parties do not lose elections. Usually, the losing 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
fifteen years, the ruling party lost.
● 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.
● Candidates who are known to have spent a lot of money on ‘buying votes’
and
those with known criminal connections often lose elections.
● Barring very few disputed elections, the electoral outcomes are usually
accepted as ‘people’s verdict’ by the defeated party.

Question 3.
What do you mean by Voter’s List? What is its significance?
Answer:
(i) In a democratic election, the list of those who are eligible to vote is prepared much
before the election and given to everyone. This list is officially called the Electoral Roll
and is commonly known as the Voters’ List.
(ii) The significance of Voter’s List is as follows:

● This is an important step for it is linked to the first condition of a

democratic election. Everyone should get an equal opportunity to choose
representatives.
● In our country, all the citizens aged 18 years and above can vote in an
election. Every citizen has the right to vote, regardless of his or her caste,
religion or gender.
● It is the responsibility of the government to get the names of all the eligible
voters put on the Voter’s List. As new persons attain voting age, names are
added to the voters’ list. Names of those who move out of a place or those
who are dead are deleted.
● A complete revision of the list takes place every five years. This is done to
ensure that it remains up to date. In the last few years a new system of
Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) has been introduced. The government
has tried to give this card to every person on the voters’ list. But the card is
not yet compulsory for voting. For voting, the voters can show many other
proofs of identity like the ration card or the driving licence.

Question 4.
Explain the role of the Election Commission in conducting the free and fair elections.
Answer:
The role of the Election Commission in conducting the free and fair elections is as
follows.

● Election Commission takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and

control of elections from the announcement of elections to the declaration
of results.
● It implements the Code of Conduct and punishes any candidate or party
that violates it.
● It allots election symbols to parties and independent candidates.
● During the election period, the Election Commission 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.
● When on election duty, government officers work under the control of the
Election Commission and not the government.

Question 5.
What are the changing trends of people’s participation in elections in India?
Answer:
The changing trends of people’s participation in elections in India are as follows:

● People’s participation in election is usually measured by voter turnout

figures. Turnout indicates the per cent of eligible voters who cast their vote.
In India, the turnout figures over last few decades have either remained
stable or gone up.
● In India, the poor, illiterate and underprivileged people vote in larger
proportion as compared to the rich and privileged sections. This is in
contrast to western democracies.
● Common people in India attach a lot of importance to elections. They feel
that through elections, they can bring pressure on political parties to adopt
policies and programmes favourable to them.
● The interest of voters in election-related activities has been increasing over
the years. During the 2004 elections, more than one-third voters took part in
a campaign-related activity.
● More than half of the people identified themselves as being close to one or
the other political party. One out of every seven voters is a member of a
political party.

What are the minimum conditions needed for a democratic election?

Solution:
There are five minimum conditions needed for a democratic election. They are :

● Everyone should have the right to vote and every vote should have equal
value.
● Parties and candidates should be free to contest elections and they should
offer some real choice to the voters.
● Elections must be held regularly .
● Candidates preferred by the people should be elected.
● Elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner.

In which way does the Election Commission enjoy the same kind of independence as
the judiciary?
Answer:
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 Chief
Election Commissioner.

Write a short note on election campaigns.

Answer:
In our country, election campaigns take place for a two-week period between the
announcement of the final list of candidates and the date of polling. During this period,
the candidates contact their voters, political leaders address election meetings and
political parties mobilise their supporters.

This is also the period when newspapers and television news are full of election related
stories and debates. But, election campaign is not limited to these two weeks only.
Political parties start preparing for elections months before they actually take place.

What are the minimum conditions needed for a democratic election?

Solution:
There are five minimum conditions needed for a democratic election. They are :

● Everyone should have the right to vote and every vote should have equal
value.
● Parties and candidates should be free to contest elections and they should
offer some real choice to the voters.
● Elections must be held regularly .
● Candidates preferred by the people should be elected.
● Elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner.

Mention a few successful slogans that were used during election campaigns.
Solution:
The most successful slogans used during election campaigns were:

● Garibi Hatao or Remove poverty: This slogan was used by the Congress
party led by Indira Gandhi in the Lok Sabha elections of 1971. The party
promised to remove poverty from the country.
● Save Democracy: This slogan used by Janata Party in the Lok Sabha
election held in 1977. The party promised to undo the excesses committed
during Emergency and restore civil liberties.
Land to the Tiller: This slogan was used by the Left Front in the West
Bengal Assembly elections held in 1977.
● Protect the Self Respect of the Telugus: This slogan used by N. T. Rama
Rao, the leader of the Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh Assembly
elections in 1983.