-->

Electoral Politics

Question
CBSEENSS9007637

Explain the limitations and challenges of
Indian elections.

Solution

Followings are the limitations and challenges of
Indian elections:

(i)Candidates and parties with a lot of money may not be sure of their victory but they do enjoy a big and unfair advantage over smaller parties and independents.
(ii)In some parts of the country, candidates with criminal connection have been able to push others out of the electoral race and to secure a
‘ticket’ from major parties.
(iii)Some families tend to dominate political parties; tickets are distributed to relatives from these
families.
(iv)Very often elections offer little choice to ordinary citizens, for both the major parties are quite similar to each other both in policies and practice.
(v)Smaller parties and independent candidates suffer a huge disadvantage compared to bigger
parties.

 

Some More Questions From Electoral Politics Chapter

The table given ahead 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 per cent) in the

 
 

House of representatives

Population of US

Blacks

8

13

Hispanics

5

13

Whites

86

70

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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?

  • 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 favour of another.

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?

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

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?

  • 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 favoured Mr. Bush in the presidential elections in 2000. But no one could change those decisions.

Here are some reports of malpractices in Indian elections. Identify what the problem in each case is? What should be done to correct the situation?

Following the announcement of elections, the minister promised to provide financial aid to reopen the closed sugar mill.