Q7 of 11 Page 74

Can we draw the following conclusions from the information given in this chapter? Give two facts to support your position for each of these.

1. Election Commission of India does not have enough powers to conduct free and fair elections in the country.


2. There is a high level of popular participation in the elections in our country.


3. It is very easy for the party in power to win an election.


4. Many reforms are needed to make our elections completely free and fair.

1. First statement is incorrect as Election Commission is an independent body. All the elections in our country are conducted by the Election commission. Election commission not only conduct elections but also announces the dates of the election and manages the things during elections. It has the powers to allow or disallow candidates, announce re-election, cancel election if necessary without having to consult any of the political bodies.

2. Second statement is correct. India has the highest number of voters in the world and the global record for the maximum number of voters participating in an election also rests with India.


3. This statement is incorrect as there are definite provisions in our constitution which dictates the behavior of the party in power during an election. The Election Commission makes sure that the party in power does not gets to use the government machinery to make extra gains during the elections. Those who are found guilty of this face consequences like cancellation of candidature.


4. This statement is correct. Our election procedure has been devised well in theory but there are some practical flaws like failure in controlling the expenditure by the candidates even after several guidelines. The miscreants are able to affect the elections at some of the places which would require to be controlled.


More from this chapter

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5

Surekha is an officer in-charge of ensuring free and fair elections in an assembly constituency in a state. Describe what she should focus on for each of the following stages of election:

(a) Election campaign (b) Polling day (c) Counting day.

 6

The table below gives the proportion of different communities among the candidates who won elections to the US Congress. Compare these to the proportion of these communities in the population of the US. Based on this, would you suggest a system of reservations in the US Congress? If yes, why and for which communities? If no, why not?


























Proportion of the community (in percent) in the




House of representatives



Population of US



Blacks



8



13



Hispanics



5



13



Whites



86



70


 8

Chinappa was convicted for torturing his wife for dowry. Satbir was held guilty of practicing untouchability. The court did not allow either of them to contest elections. Does this decision go against the principles of democratic elections?

 9

Here are some reports of electoral malpractices from different parts of the world. Is there anything that these countries can learn from India to improve their elections? What would you suggest in each case?

(a) During an election in Nigeria, the officer in charge of counting votes deliberately increased the votes of one candidate and declared him elected. The court later found out that more than five lakh votes cast for one candidate were counted in favor of another.


(b) Just before elections in Fiji, a pamphlet was distributed warning voters that a vote for former Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhary will lead to bloodshed. This was a threat to voters of Indian origin.


(c) In the US, each state has its own method of voting, its own procedure of counting and its own authority for conducting elections. Authorities in the state of Florida took many controversial decisions that favored Mr. Bush in the presidential elections in 2000. But no one could change those decisions.