CHAPTER-3: ELECTORAL POLITICS
Q1. What kind of choice does a voter make in an election?
Ans In an election the voters make many choices:
i) They can choose who will make laws for them.
Ii)They can choose who will form the government and take major decisions.
iii) They can choose the party whose policies will guide the government and law making.
Q2. Explain the minimum conditions of a democratic election.
Ans The minimum conditions of a democratic election are:
i) Everyone should be able to choose. This means that everyone should have one
vote and every vote should have one value.
ii) There should be something to choose from. Parties and candidates should be
free to contest elections and should offer some real choice to the voters.
iii) The choice should be offered at regular intervals. Elections must be held regularly after every
few years.
iv) The candidate preferred by the people should get elected.
v)Elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner where people can choose as they
really wish.
Q3. Mention any five demerits of electoral competetion.
Ans The following are five demerits of electoral competetion:
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 cften use dirty tricks to win elections.
Pressure to win electoral fights does not allow sensible long-term policies to be
formulated.
Some good people who wish to serve the country do not enter this arena. They do not
like the idea of being dragged into unhealthy competition.
All the political parties do not have equal opportunity in respect of access to resources.
04. What are the merits of electoral politics?
Ansi) Regular electoral competition provide incentives to political parties and leaders. If they
can satisfy with their work, they will be able to win again.
ii) Important issues are raised by the political parties and leaders due to competition.
iii) It helps to force political parties and leader to serve the people.
Q5. What is election? Discuss the importance of election.
Ans An election is a contest between different political parties in order to get people’s support.
Elections are important in a democracy due to following reasons:
i) Without elections, democratic government cannot be set up. It has been rightly said "No
election, no democracy.”
ii)Through elections alone, the people can get rid of their cruel and unpopular government and
in its place they can elect a new government.
iii). All the citizens in a modern democracy can't run by administration. Only their
representatives can do it for them. In order to choose such representatives, elections are must.
Q6. How and by whom is the voters list is prepared?
Ans :) The list which contains the particulars of eligible voters is called the electoral roll or
voters list. The voters list is prepared by Election Commission of India.
ii) All the citizens aged 18 years or above are eligible to cast their votes in an election.
iii) Record of name, fathers name, address, age and sex of the voter are duly prepared.
iv) It is the responsibility of the government to get the names of all the eligible voters put on
the voters list.
v)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 after every 5 years.
Q7. Describe the procedures of the nomination of a candidate.
Ans :) Every person who wishes to contest, an election has to fill a nomination form.
(ii) He or she has to deposit a security, amount fixed by the Election Commission
of India.
iii) He or she has to file an affidavit regarding the details of property, assets and liability.
iv) Besides, a candidate has to produce criminals records, if any against him/her.
Q8. What are the contents of legal declaration to be made by candidates for contesting
elections in India?
Ans ) Serious criminal cases pending against the candidates.
ii)Details of the assets and liabilities of the candidate and his / her family .
ii) Educational qualification of the candidate.
Q9.What is the ‘Model code of Conduct’ for election campaign?
Answer:
According to the medal code of conduct, no party or candidate can:
Use any place of worship for election propaganda. ‘
Use government vehicles, aircrafts and officials for election.
Once elections are announced, the Ministers shall not lay foundation stones of
any projects, take any big policy decisions or make any promises of providing
public facilities.
Q10.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.
Q11.What powers are exercised by the Election Commission of India?
Answer: (i) The Election Commission (EC) controls the elections right from the
announcement of the elections to the declaration of the result.
(ii) It implements the Code of Conduct and punishes any candidate or party that violates
it
(iii) During the election period, the EC can order the government to follow some
guidelines, to prevent the use and misuse of government power to enhance its chances
to win the elections or to transfer some government officials.
(iv) If the EC comes to know that the polling was not fair in some booths or even an
entire constituency, they order a repoll.
Q12. Why is there a provision of reservation of seats in the legislatures?
Answer: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.
* They may not have the required resources, education and contacts to contest and win
elections against the more influential contestants.
* The powerful sections of society may dominate lower section candidates or harass
them by the means of power. So, seats are reserved for them in the legislature.
Q13.Describe the procedure for nomination of candidates for election in India.
Ans:Any one, who can be a voter, can also become a candidate in elections. Political
parties nominate their candidates who get party symbol and support. Party‘s
nomination is often called party ‘ticket‘.
Every person who wishes to contest an election has to fill a ‘nomination form‘
and give some money as a ‘security deposit‘.
Recently, a new system of declaration has been introduced on direction from
the Supreme Court. Every candidate has to make a legal declaration, giving full
details of
(a) Serious criminal cases pending against the candidate,
(b) Details of the assets and liabilities of the candidate and his or her family
(c) Educational qualifications of the candidate.
This 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 candidates.
