Political Partis & Elections

The Election Commission [Art 324]

• Chief Election commissioner & two election commissioners
• Appointment by the President
• Hold office for a term of 6years or attain age of 65 years ,whiever is earlier

 The Election commission registers political parties as

1. National party,
2. State party,
3. Registered-unrecognised party

State Party A party is recognized state party if it fulfills any one of following

1. gets 6% of valid votes in State assembly elections and 2 seats in Assembly, OR
2. gets 6% of valid votes in the state at a general election to the Lok sabhaand wins 1 seat in the Lok sabha, OR
3. it wins 3% of the legislative assembly seats at general election of the state or 3 seats,whichever is more, OR
4. if it wins 1 seat in the Lok sabha for every 25 seats allotted to the state at a general election to the Lok sabha.

National Party A party is recognized natinal party if it fulfills any one of following

1.  If it is recognized as the State Party in four states, OR
2. If it wins 2% of the Lok Sabha seats at a general election from three states, OR
3. gets 6% of valid votes polled in any four or more states at a general election to the Lok Sabha or to the legislative assembly; and in addition it wins four seats in the Lok Sabha from any states

At present there are 6 National Parties only:

1. Indian National Congress
2. Bhartiya Janata Party
3. CPI
4. CPI(M)
5. NCP
6. BSP

•  Lowering of age from 21 years to 18 years as adult franchise - 61st Amendment act
• Electronic Voting Machine (EVMs) first time use
• in state assembly election in 1998
• in general election Lok Sabha in 1999
• Ballot paper / EVMs order
1. candidates from recognised party
2. candidates from unrecognized part
3. independent candidates, (within each category alphabetically)
• voting through proxy is only available to Armed forces personnel
• Largest constituency by Area : Ladakh
• Smallest Constituency by Area: Chandani Chowk
• Nomination of candidate in Parliamentary or assembly constituency needs
• 10 registered electors as Proposers if the candidate is not sponsored by a recognized plitical party
• only 1 in case candidate from recognized political party