Question

Describe how elections are held in India.

Answer 1

Hint: Considering the population size of India, elections conducting elections is a complex matter. Indian political parties can be either a National Party or State Party.

Complete Step by Step Answer: Article 324 of the Indian Constitution grants the Election commission the power of supervision, direction, and control of elections of Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, and the State legislature. The Election Commission also regulates Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections. It draws out the schedule for a free and fair election. The Universal Adult Franchise is the sole foundation of democracy: citizens of India must be 18 years of age or above to cast their vote in the elections conducted in all the three levels of the Government, the centre, state, and the local levels. Electronic voting machines are the medium through which Indian citizens cast their vote.
The Election Commission comprises the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners as may be decided by the President of India from time to time. In case of the Lok Sabha elections, the country is divided into several constituencies and each constituency elects one winner. The elected representatives become the Members of the Lok Sabha and the Parliament. It can be conducted within one single-phase or divided into different phases. This varies from state to state: elections can be completed in one single phase in peaceful and non-controversial states, whereas violence-prone states can be divided into many phases, each state corresponding to a different locality or sub-locality, and different election schedules.
Apart from Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha elections, Assembly elections are also conducted at the state level to elect representatives for the Legislative Assembly. The Legislative Assembly or the Vidhan Sabha conducts the election in the same method as the Lok Sabha elections. The leader of the majority party takes oath as the elected Chief Minister. In states with a bicameral legislature, State Legislative Council or Vidhan Parishad elections are conducted in accordance with the election process of Rajya Sabha, the lower house being the State Legislative Assembly.

Note: The power of elections to the Corporations, Municipalities, Zila Parishads, Panchayat Samities, Gram Panchayat and other local bodies at the local level are conducted by respective State Election Commissions, which are independent of the Election Commission of India.