DR KAVITA KUMARI
Elections are a cornerstone of democracy, serving multiple critical functions that ensure the system’s health and sustainability. a. Representation of the People: Elections allow citizens to choose their representatives, ensuring that the government reflects the will of the people. This representation is crucial for addressing the needs and interests of the populace, making the government accountable to the citizens. b. Legitimacy of Government: The process of regular, free, and fair elections provides legitimacy to the governing bodies. A government elected by the majority of its citizens is seen as more legitimate and is more likely to enjoy the support and compliance of the people. c. Accountability and Transparency: Elections hold elected officials accountable for their actions and policies. Regular elections give citizens the opportunity to reward or punish leaders based on their performance, encouraging transparency and responsiveness in governance. d. Peaceful Transition of Power: Elections provide a structured and peaceful means for the transfer of power. This helps in maintaining political stability and avoiding conflicts that can arise from power struggles.: Elections are indispensable in a democracy as they enable representation, ensure government legitimacy, foster accountability, and encourage civic engagement. By facilitating the peaceful transition of power and promoting inclusivity, elections help maintains a stable and vibrant democratic society. As a follow-up of the theme the Indian Constitution, adopted on January 26, 1950, is the supreme law of India and lays the foundation for the country’s democratic framework. The democratic election process in India is integral to this framework and is designed to ensure free, fair, and regular elections. Under the constitutional provisions every citizen of India who is 18 years of age or older, irrespective of gender, caste, religion, or socioeconomic status, has the right to vote in elections. For the purpose, there is an independent constitutional authority responsible for administering election processes to ensure they are conducted in a free and fair manner. It supervises elections to the Parliament, state legislatures, and the offices of the President and Vice-President in India as perRepresentation of the People Act 1950. India follows a parliamentary system of government, which is based on the British model. The Parliament of India is bicameral, consisting of the President, the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), and the Lok Sabha.
Election Commission of India
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is a constitutional authority responsible for administering election processes in India at both the national and state levels. Established under Article 324 of the Indian Constitution, the ECI ensures that elections to the Parliament, state legislatures, and the offices of the President and Vice-President are conducted in a free, fair, and impartial manner.Key Functions and Responsibilities of the ECI include: a. Conduct of Elections:The ECI is responsible for supervising, directing, and controlling the entire process of elections to the Parliament and state legislatures, as well as the elections for the offices of the President and Vice-President of India. b. Preparation of Electoral Rolls:The Commission oversees the preparation, revision, and maintenance of the electoral rolls, ensuring that eligible voters are registered and ineligible entries are removed. C. Delimitation of Constituencies:It periodically undertakes the task of delimitation, which involves redrawing the boundaries of various parliamentary and assembly constituencies to ensure balanced representation based on population changes.d. Model Code of Conduct:The ECI enforces the Model Code of Conduct, a set of guidelines intended to ensure a level playing field for all political parties and candidates during the election period. This code covers aspects such as campaign conduct, speeches, processions, and polling day activities. e. Political Party Registration and Regulation:The ECI registers political parties, monitors their compliance with legal requirements, and regulates their activities to ensure transparency and adherence to democratic principles.f. Voter Education and Awareness:The ECI conducts voter education campaigns to inform citizens about their electoral rights and responsibilities, and to encourage greater voter participation.
g. Recent Initiatives and Reforms:Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs):The introduction of EVMs has made the voting process more efficient and has reduced the chances of electoral fraud.Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT):VVPAT systems have been introduced to increase transparency, allowing voters to verify their vote was cast correctly. NOTA (None of the Above):Voters have the option to reject all candidates if they do not find any suitable, promoting better candidate selection by parties.The ECI’s role is crucial in upholding the democratic values enshrined in the Indian Constitution, ensuring that the electoral process is fair, transparent, and accessible to all eligible citizens.
Indian Election 2024
The 18th Lok Sabha election in India took place in 2024 and conducted in seven phases, from April 19 to June 1, with vote counting on June 4. This extensive election process reflects the scale and complexity of Indian democracy, involving nearly 97 crore (970 million) eligible voters.Election Schedulefor the 18th Lok Sabha held as per notification of the Election Commission of India which declared as- Phase I: April 19, Phase II: April 26, Phase III: May 7, Phase IV: May 13, Phase V: May 20, Phase VI: May 25, Phase VII: June 1, 2024.
In 2024 election there were nearly 97 crore voters, including 1.8 crore first-time voters aged 18 to 19 years and polling stations also increased to 10.48 lakh, requiring 1.5 crore polling and security officials.
The primary contest is between the incumbent National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A), along with other regional parties and alliances.Election Commission’s Preparations: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has implemented numerous measures to ensure a smooth electoral process:Addressing the “4Ms” (muscle, money, misinformation, and Model Code of Conduct violations).Establishing 24/7 integrated control rooms.Deploying drone-based surveillance in sensitive areas.
The 2024 elections are significant due to the increased electorate and the inclusion of a large number of young voters. The use of digital platforms and social media for campaigning is a notable trend, with the ECI closely monitoring online activities to maintain fairness.
The 18th Lok Sabha election results in India, held from April 19 to June 1, 2024, marked a significant political event. The election saw a voter turnout of around 642 million, with an unprecedented participation of 312 million women voters.
The results were declared on June 4, 2024.The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), secured 292 seats out of 543, allowing incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi to secure a third consecutive term. However, the BJP on its own did not achieve a majority, winning fewer seats than expected.
The opposition coalition, Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), won 234 seats, with the Indian National Congress (INC) emerging as the largest party in the opposition with 99 seats.Overall, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were the largest-ever in history, lasting 44 days, and highlighted the dynamic and evolving political landscape of India.
(The author is Guest Faculty Member, Dept. of Pol. Sc. BNMU, West Campus P. G. Centre, Saharsa).