Here at CBSE, Class 9, Political Science, Chapter3, Electoral Politics, we will focus mainly on electoral politics in India. Things that we will try to understand here at CBSE, Class 9, Political Science, Chapter3, Electoral Politics, is related to the basic questions like – why elections are necessary and useful in a democracy, how electoral competition serves the people, what makes elections democratic, etc. This topic, CBSE, Class 9, Political Science, Chapter3, Electoral Politics; also tries to assess elections in India whether they are free and fair.

The best way to study this material is to study it in stages :

  1. First stage: First concentrate on the title of your chapter and imagine what things might be hidden here. This activity will create an interest in you for the topic.
  2. Second stage: Give a thorough reading of the questions and answers, which are woven here in such a fashion so as to maintain an hierarchy and orderliness. At this stage you should not take any stress. Just enjoy your reading by touching one question after another.
  3. Third stage: Try to establish links between questions. See how they are inter related. Try to focus on the keywords of a topic and try to reach its underlying meaning.
  4. Fourth stage: Now give another reading to each question and answer with a purpose to internalise it in your own way.
Let’s start our journey

Topic : Why Elections ? (Class 9, Political Science, Chapter3, Electoral Politics)

Q.1. Why do we need elections in democracy ?

Ans. Democracy is the rule of the people. But in large communities, it is not possible that all the people sit together everyday and take all decisions. Nor it is possible for everyone to have time and knowledge to take decisions on all matters.

Therefore in most democracies people rule through their representatives. These representatives are selected in all democracies by a mechanism called election by which people’s representatives are chosen at regular intervals. Elections enable people to replace incompetent old representatives by new ones, which they consider able and fit for such positions.

Q.2. Why are the elections considered essential for any representative democracy ?

Ans. Elections are considered essential for any representative democracy. This is because of the fact that the elections present many choices before the voters such as –

  1. Voters can choose who will make laws for them.
  2. Voters can choose who will form the government and take major decisions.
  3. Voters can choose the party which they consider having right policy for them.

Q.3. How can we distinguish between democratic elections and non democratic elections ?

Or, What are the features of democratic elections ?

Ans. We can declare a election democratic if we notice following features in them:

  1. Everyone should have one vote and every vote should have equal value.
  2. Parties and candidates should be free to contest elections and should offer real choice to voters.
  3. Elections must be held regularly after a fixed interval of years.
  4. Candidates preferred by people should get elected.
  5. Elections should be conducted in free and fair manner.

Q.4. How does electoral competition among parties serve the people ?

Ans. Though electoral competition has many demerits, yet our constitution makers opted for free competition in elections as way to select our future leaders for following reasons :

  1. This system works better in the long run.
  2. It is a realistic way to set up a system where political leaders are rewarded by voters for serving the people and punished by voters for not doing so.
  3. Even if a political party is motivated by desire to be in power, the system of electoral competition forces it to serve the people.

Q.5. Write the demerits of electoral competition.

Ans. System of electoral competition has following demerits :

  1. It creates a sense of disunity and factionalism in every locality.
  2. Different political parties often level allegation against each other.
  3. Party and candidates often play dirty tricks to win elections.
  4. System of electoral competition creates pressure to win electoral fights and doesn’t allow sensible long term policies to be formulated.
  5. Some good hearted people, with a wish to serve the country, don’t enter this arena of unhealthy competition.

Topic : What Makes Election In India Democratic ? (Class 9, Political Science, Chapter3, Electoral Politics)

Q.6. Are elections in India free and fair ? How can you say that India has an independent Election Commission ?

Ans. Elections in India are truly democratic because here free and fair elections are conducted under the guidance of Election Commission of India, which is an independent and very powerful government body.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), is appointed by the President of India. Once appointed, CEC is not answerable to the president, or the government. It is virtually impossible for the ruling party to remove the CEC. Thus independence of CEC is fairly ensured.

Election Commission of India (EC), ensures free and fair elections in following ways :

  1. EC takes decision on every aspect of conduct and control of elections till the declaration of results.
  2. It implements the code of conduct and punishes any candidate or any party who violates it.
  3. During the election period, the EC can order the government to follow some guidelines to prevent use or misuse of governmental powers.
  4. When on election duty, government officials work under the control of the EC and not the government.

People’s participation (voter turnout), in elections in India, has either remained fairly stable or has actually gone up (66% in 2015). Common people in India, attach a lot of importance to the elections. Barring very few disputed elections, the electoral outcomes are usually accepted as people’s verdict by the defeated party.

Q.7. How popular participation reflects that elections India are democratic ?

Ans. Following aspects of people’s participation suggest that elections in India are democratic :

  1. Over the last 50 years, the voter turnout in India has either remained stable or actually gone up. It was 66% during 2015.
  2. In India the poor, illiterate and under privileged people vote in larger proportion.
  3. Common people in India attach a lot of importance to elections. They feel that their vote matters in the running of country.
  4. The interest of voters in election related activities has been increasing. One out of every seven voters is a member of a political party.

Q.8. How on the basis of election outcomes can it be said that elections in India are free and fair ?

  1. It has always been observed that in India, the ruling parties routinely loose elections both at national and state level.
  2. In India barring a few disputed elections, it has been observed that election outcomes are often accepted as people’s verdict by the loosing party.
  3. Candidates who are known to have spent a lot of money on buying votes, and those with known criminal connections, often loose elections.

Above observations about election outcomes in India. amply suggest that elections in India are free and fair.

Q.9 What are the limitations and challenges of Indian elections ? Does India need further electoral reforms?

Ans. Limitations and challenges of Indian elections are as follows :

  1. Candidates and parties with a lot of money enjoy a big and unfair advantage over smaller parties and independents.
  2. In some parts of country, candidate with criminal connection, push others out of electoral race.
  3. Some families tend to dominate political parties. Tickets are often distributed to the relatives.
  4. When major parties have similar policies, citizens have very few choice to choose from.
  5. Smaller parties and independent candidates suffer huge disadvantage compared to bigger parties.

Due to above mentioned issues and challenges: citizens, social activists and organisations have been demanding reforms in our electoral system.

Q. 10. How are elections held in India ?

Ans. Elections for Lok Sabha(centre) and Vidhan Sabha (in states), are held regularly in India after every 5 years.

The Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha gets dissolved after completion of its five year term. And so the term of every previously elected candidate comes to its end.

Elections are held in all constituencies at the same time either on the same day or within few days. This is called “General Election”.

Sometimes election is held only for one constituency to fill the vacancy caused by the death or resignation of a member. This is called a ‘by election’.

Topic : What Is Our System Of Elections? (Class 9, Political Science, Chapter3, Electoral Politics)

Q.11. What do you mean by an electoral constituency ? Explain it in context of Indian elections..

Ans. In India, we follow an area based system of representation. The country is divided in to different areas for purpose of elections. These areas are called electoral constituencies.

The voters of a constituency elect one representative. For Lok Sabha elections country is divided in 543 parliamentary constituencies. The representative elected from a parliamentary constituency is called an MP i.e. Member of Parliament.

Our constituency requires that each constituency should have a roughly equal population living in it. This provision ensures an important feature of democratic elections that every vote should have equal value.

Each state is divided in to a specific number of assembly constituencies. In this case the elected representative is called the MLA i.e. Member of Legislative Assembly.

There may be several assembly constituencies in one parliamentary constituency.

In the case of rural or urban local body elections, wards are created on the same principle which applies for creation of parliamentary or assembly electoral constituencies.

Q. 12. What are reserved constituencies ? Why the need to create them was felt by our constitution makers ?

Ans. Our constitution makers were worried that in an open electoral competition, certain weaker sections may not have a good chance to get elected to the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies. They may not have the required resources, education and contacts to contest and win elections against others.

Those who are influential and resourceful may prevent them from winning elections. That would make our democracy less representative and less democratic.

So the makers of our constitution thought of a special system of reserved constituencies for weaker sections.

Thus some constituencies were made reserved for people belonging to scheduled castes (SCs) and scheduled tribes (STs) for contesting elections. Currently, in Lok Sabha 84 seats are reserved for SC and 47 seats are reserved for ST. This number is in proportion to their share in the total population.

In many states, seats in rural and urban local bodies are now reserved for Other Backward Caste (OBC). Similarly one third of the seats are reserved for women candidates in rural and urban local bodies.

Q.13. What do you mean by the ‘electoral roll’ or ‘voters’ list’ ?

Ans. In a democratic election, the list of those who are eligible to vote is prepared much before the election and given to every one. This list is officially called electoral roll and is commonly known as the voters’ list.

This provision of preparing voters’ list fulfills the first condition of a democratic election – everyone should get an equal opportunity to choose representatives.

A complete revision of voters’ list takes place every 5 years. Every person in voters’ list are given Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC). However this card is yet not compulsory for casting vote.

Q. 14. What do you mean by ‘universal adult franchise’?

Ans. The principle of universal adult franchise means that everyone should have one vote and each vote should have equal value. No one should be denied the right to vote without a good reason.

In India, all the citizens aged 18 years and above regardless of caste religion or gender, can vote in an election.

Those declared as criminals and persons with unsound mind, can be denied the right to vote; but only in rare situations.

Q.15. What are conditions for being a candidate to contest elections ?

Ans. Every person who wishes to contest an election, must have attained the age of 25 years. Further, the person has to fulfil a nomination form and deposit the sum required, as security deposit.

Recently as per Supreme Court direction, every candidate has to make a legal declaration, giving full details regarding :

  1. Serious criminal cases pending against the candidate.
  2. Details of the assets and liabilities of the candidate and his or her family.
  3. Educational qualifications of the candidate.

This information has to be made public so that voters can make a view point about the candidate.

Q.16. What is called a party ticket ?

Ans. Political parties nominate their candidates who get the party symbol and support and contest in elections. party’s nomination to a person as its candidate, is often called getting party ticket.

Q.17. Why is there no educational qualification for being a candidate for contesting elections ?

Ans. The relevant qualification for being an MLA or MP is the ability to understand people’s concerns, and to represent their interests.

Their such ability is judged every five years by the voters themselves. Also it is worth noticing that in our country, putting an educational qualification would go against the spirit of democracy because it would mean depriving a majority of the country’s citizens the right to contest elections.

Q.18. What is the importance of election campaign ?

Ans. The main purpose of election is to give people a chance to choose the representatives, the government, and, the policies they prefer.

Therefore it is necessary to have a free and open discussion about who is better representative, which party will make a better government, or what is a good policy. Election campaign provides this opportunity to the voters as well as to the candidates.

In India, election campaigns take place for two weeks time. During election campaigns –

  1. candidates contact their voters.
  2. Political leaders address election meetings and try to focus the public attention on big issues.
  3. Political parties mobilise their supporters.
  4. Electronic and print media are full of election related stories, debates, interviews, etc.

Q.19. Write some popular slogans given by different political parties during various election campaign in India.

Ans.

‘Garibi Hatao’ (Remove Poverty) – Congress party,1971

‘Save democracy’ – Janata party, 1977

‘Land to tiller’ – Left Front, WB Assembly election, 1977

‘protect the self respect of Telugus’ – TDP, Andhra Pradesh, 1983

Q. 20. Mention various laws laid down to regulate candidate’s conduct during election campaigns in India.

Ans. In order to regulate the conduct of candidates, Law provides that –

  1. No candidate can bribe or threaten any voter.
  2. No candidate can appeal to voters, in the name of their caste or religion.
  3. No candidate can use government resources for election campaigns.
  4. No candidate can spend more than Rs. 25 lakh in a constituency for Lok Sabha elections and Rs. 10 lakh in a constituency for Assembly elections.

Even if they do so, their election to that seat can be rejected by the court.

Candidates also have to follow a Model Code of Conduct for election campaigns. This Model Code of Conduct is as follows :

  1. No candidate can use any place of worship for election propaganda.
  2. No candidate can use government vehicles, aircrafts and officials for elections.
  3. Once elections are announced, ministers shall not lay foundation stones of any project, take any big policy decisions or make any promises of providing public facilities.

Q. 21. Why an agent of each candidate is allowed to sit at different polling booths and also at vote counting centres ?

Ans. An agent of each candidate is allowed to sit at different polling booths and at vote counting centres to ensure that the voting and counting of votes takes place in a fair way.

Q. 22. What is a ballot paper ?

Ans. A ballot paper is a sheet of paper on which names of the contesting candidates along with party name and symbols are listed.

Q. 23. What are EVMs ?

Ans. EVM stands for Electronic Voting Machine. EVMs are used to record votes, cast by voters on Election Day.

Q.24 Which candidate gets elected in an election ?

Ans. The candidate who secures the highest numbers of vote from a constituency is declared elected.

Q. 25. Are the elections too expensive in our country ?

Ans. A large amount of money is spent in conducting elections in India.

For instance, in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, government spent about Rs.3,500 crores for conducting election. While, at the same time the total amount spent during this election, including the money spent by parties and candidates, stood at Rs. 30,000 crore.

If we compare it with Rs.20,000 crores, which was spent in organising the Commonwealth Games in Delhi during 2010, we can safely say that elections in our country have been within manageable limits and can be further rationalised.

Topic : Additional Questions. (Class 9, Political Science, Chapter3, Electoral Politics)

Q. 26. Here are some facts on Indian elections. Comment on each of these to say whether they reflect the strength or weakness of our electoral system.

  1. The 16th Lok Sabha has 12% women members.
  2. The Election Commission often refuses government’s advice about when the elections should be held.
  3. The 16th Lok Sabha has more than 440 members whose assets are more than Rs. 1 crore.
  4. After loosing an election, the Chief Minister said , “I respect the people’s verdict.

Ans.

(Note: Dear readers, these type of questions are based on application of your understanding of the concepts in a given situation.)

(1) The fact that 16th Lok Sabha has 12% women members, shows weakness of our democracy. Because the desired proportion of women’s representation in Lok Sabha should be at least 33%.

(2)The Election Commission often refuses government’s advice about when the elections should be held. This observation is indication of strength of Indian democracy. It highlights the independence of the office of Election Commission of India.

(3)The 16th Lok Sabha has more than 440 members whose assets are more than Rs. 1 crore. This fact brings out the grey side of our democracy. (weakness). It highlights the increased influence of money and affluent class in our democracy.

(4) After loosing an election, the Chief Minister said , “I respect the people’s verdict. This indicates smooth power transition in Indian electoral politics. This is our strength.