Come April , and the biggest entertaining season of India begins
no i am not refering to IPL or T20 world cup finals, cricket is the bread and butter of Indians and due to increasing frequency of occuring , its hype has reduced. Rather its Elections in India spread over two months which is coming to entertain you and follow you in your home, in the morning bus to office, in the office , during lunch break, during tea (Chai pe charcha) ,in the evening news , to the 9PM debates and to your bed.
Its a festival in a way, The Model Code of Conduct kicking in marks the beginning. Serious campaigning , creation of manifestos , making promise of reforms , Criticizing opponents(leading to rediscovery of different words in each language) leaders willing to do any service for votes and rallies creating nuisance to ordinary life.
Yet they are all necessary for History gives us a glimpse of the origin of this festival. Elections were introduced in India in the year 1892 to elect leaders for Municipal bodies set up by Lord Ripon in 1882. The Election to State provinces began in 1919 after the coming of Montagu-chelmsford reforms introducing dyarchy in states. The reforms of 1935 abolished dyarchy in states and replaced it with elected government. the greatest achievement to Indians from this bill was Dyarchy in centre even though it never materialised. The grand old party of India , The Indian National Congress won and gained power in 7 out of 11 provinces and in 1938 the number increased to 8.
The first Lok Sabha election of independent India took place in the year 1951-52 under the guidance of chief election commissioner Sukumar Sen and from then on the humungus task of conducting elections is shouldered by the election commission of India with impeccable record of Perfection, Transparancy and Accountability. The election commission derives its powers from the constitution (Part xv, Art 325) and even holds powers greater than that of judiciary during elections. The present Chief Election commissioner is V.S Sampath. The coming elections will elect representatives for the 16th Lok Sabha having a strength of 552 members.
Elections ensure democracy in a country and is highly essential for political stability. But what are the other benefits of elections?
Eletions bring multi sectoral benefits to a country (only in short run) as the flow of money into the economy increases. Its boosts the economy in a way similar to budgets or deficit financing(may be to reduce the absence of budget in elecion year). The trade and expenses involved in elections run to millions of dollars (at least off the record) though there are set limits to expenses by candidates. The media screams through your living room about the candidates in elections, their backgrounds, how the past government has faired, opinion polls to project possible winners, what are the new promises, how many with criminal records are participating, which party is promising what as freebees (from rice to TV sets to Laptops and what not). The period of elections see revival of writing on wall, new slogans, colourful banners, stages and decorated Jeeps and caravans plying across the roads. Ideologies, religion ,caste , ethnicity and what not are dragged in as topics for campaigning and gaining votes.
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There is the day of election when the nation goes to the election booth to cast their votes.India follows a system of universal adult frachise with right to vote for citizens above the age of 18 (61tst amendment in 1988). The candidate winning maximum number of votes is declared as winner. The last day of campaigning fills the nation with vigour and spirit marking a perfect climax to this festival
This years election will see the introduction of None Of The Above(NOPA) Option in electoral machine as a new candidate. Also Election Commission plans to introduce physical printouts for verification of votes done. The mains opponents are the congress and BJP. This years campaigning has seen large scale use of social media and electronic media for campaigning. The election fever has already set in , let us also join in to indulge in the colours of this year's election and take a promise to vote in the elections. Jai Hind
no i am not refering to IPL or T20 world cup finals, cricket is the bread and butter of Indians and due to increasing frequency of occuring , its hype has reduced. Rather its Elections in India spread over two months which is coming to entertain you and follow you in your home, in the morning bus to office, in the office , during lunch break, during tea (Chai pe charcha) ,in the evening news , to the 9PM debates and to your bed.
Its a festival in a way, The Model Code of Conduct kicking in marks the beginning. Serious campaigning , creation of manifestos , making promise of reforms , Criticizing opponents(leading to rediscovery of different words in each language) leaders willing to do any service for votes and rallies creating nuisance to ordinary life.
Yet they are all necessary for History gives us a glimpse of the origin of this festival. Elections were introduced in India in the year 1892 to elect leaders for Municipal bodies set up by Lord Ripon in 1882. The Election to State provinces began in 1919 after the coming of Montagu-chelmsford reforms introducing dyarchy in states. The reforms of 1935 abolished dyarchy in states and replaced it with elected government. the greatest achievement to Indians from this bill was Dyarchy in centre even though it never materialised. The grand old party of India , The Indian National Congress won and gained power in 7 out of 11 provinces and in 1938 the number increased to 8.
The first Lok Sabha election of independent India took place in the year 1951-52 under the guidance of chief election commissioner Sukumar Sen and from then on the humungus task of conducting elections is shouldered by the election commission of India with impeccable record of Perfection, Transparancy and Accountability. The election commission derives its powers from the constitution (Part xv, Art 325) and even holds powers greater than that of judiciary during elections. The present Chief Election commissioner is V.S Sampath. The coming elections will elect representatives for the 16th Lok Sabha having a strength of 552 members.
Elections ensure democracy in a country and is highly essential for political stability. But what are the other benefits of elections?
Eletions bring multi sectoral benefits to a country (only in short run) as the flow of money into the economy increases. Its boosts the economy in a way similar to budgets or deficit financing(may be to reduce the absence of budget in elecion year). The trade and expenses involved in elections run to millions of dollars (at least off the record) though there are set limits to expenses by candidates. The media screams through your living room about the candidates in elections, their backgrounds, how the past government has faired, opinion polls to project possible winners, what are the new promises, how many with criminal records are participating, which party is promising what as freebees (from rice to TV sets to Laptops and what not). The period of elections see revival of writing on wall, new slogans, colourful banners, stages and decorated Jeeps and caravans plying across the roads. Ideologies, religion ,caste , ethnicity and what not are dragged in as topics for campaigning and gaining votes.
courtesy:Manorama
There is the day of election when the nation goes to the election booth to cast their votes.India follows a system of universal adult frachise with right to vote for citizens above the age of 18 (61tst amendment in 1988). The candidate winning maximum number of votes is declared as winner. The last day of campaigning fills the nation with vigour and spirit marking a perfect climax to this festival
This years election will see the introduction of None Of The Above(NOPA) Option in electoral machine as a new candidate. Also Election Commission plans to introduce physical printouts for verification of votes done. The mains opponents are the congress and BJP. This years campaigning has seen large scale use of social media and electronic media for campaigning. The election fever has already set in , let us also join in to indulge in the colours of this year's election and take a promise to vote in the elections. Jai Hind
