Electoral Politics Test - 10

In India, there are two methods of elections which are territorial representation and system of proportional representation. Proportional representation is further divided into single transferable vote system and list system. Under this system, all sections of people get representation in proportion to their number i.e., even the smallest section of the population get its share of representation in the legislature. The proportional representation by single transferable vote system is adopted for the election of President, Vice- President, and members to the Rajya Sabha.

The Indian Election Commission was founded on January 25, 1950. Election Commission of India is a permanent Constitutional Body. The Constitution of India has vested in the Election Commission of India the superintendence, direction and control of the entire process for conduct of elections to Parliament and Legislature of every State and to the offices of President and Vice-President of India.

The Commission normally announces the schedule of elections in a major Press Conference a few weeks before the formal process is set in motion. The Model Code of Conduct for the guidance of candidates and Political Parties immediately comes into effect after such announcement. Model Code of Conduct is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India for the conduct of political parties and candidates during elections.

• The Betel leaf from Kerala has been accorded a GI tag recently. The leaf is valued both for its mild stimulant action and medicinal properties.
• Even though it is commonly used for making pan masala for chewing, it has many medicinal, industrial and cultural usages and is considered as a remedy for bad breath and digestive disorders.

The election of the President can be challenged in the Supreme Court whose decision shall be final in this regard. The Supreme Court alone has exclusive power to inquire into matters related to or in connection with the election of the President or Vice-President.

Part XV of the Constitution of India consists of Articles on Elections. Article 324 of the Constitution provides that the power of superintendence, direction and control of elections to parliament, state legislatures, the office of president of India and the office of vice-president of India shall be vested in the election commission.

Under the supervision of the commission, free and fair elections have been held in India at regular intervals as per the principles enshrined in the Constitution.

Rajya Sabha is upper house of the Central legislature. The members of the house are elected indirectly by proportional representation system by single transferable vote method. The representatives of each State and two Union territories are elected by the elected members of the Legislative Assembly of that State and by the members of the Electoral College for that Union Territory, as the case may be.

Every person who wishes to contest an election has to fill a ‘nomination form’ and give some money as ‘security deposit’. It is a surety on behalf of the candidate to comply with the model code of conduct and is liable to be forfeited if he/she be found involved in electoral malpractices.

The power of superintendence, direction, and control of all elections to the local government bodies vest with the State Election Commissions as envisaged in Article 243K of the Constitution of India. The Constitutional (73rd Amendment) Act, passed in 1992 by the Narasimha Rao government, came into force on April 24, 1993. It was meant to provide constitutional sanction to establish democracy at the grassroots level as it is at the state level or national level. The State Election Commissioner has several unique powers pertaining to the elections to Local Bodies. 

The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 empowers the EC to recognize political parties and allot symbols. In case of split where the party is either vertically divided or it is not possible to say with certainty which group has a majority, the EC may freeze the party’s symbol and allow the groups to register themselves with new names or add prefixes or suffixes to the party’s existing names.