Test: Electoral Politics- 2 - Class 9 MCQ

Elections held after the term of five years for Lok Sabha are called General elections.
General elections are a significant democratic process in India where eligible citizens vote to elect their representatives in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament. Here's a detailed explanation:
General elections:
- General elections are held after the completion of the five-year term of the Lok Sabha.
- These elections are conducted throughout the country to elect members for the Lok Sabha.
- The Election Commission of India is responsible for managing and conducting these elections.
- During general elections, eligible voters cast their votes to select candidates from various political parties.
- The party or coalition that secures a majority of seats in the Lok Sabha forms the government.
- The Prime Minister is then appointed by the President of India based on the majority party's recommendation.
- General elections are crucial as they provide an opportunity for the citizens to exercise their right to vote and shape the future of the country.
- These elections determine the composition of the Lok Sabha, which plays a vital role in lawmaking and governance.
Other options:
- Mid-term elections: These are elections held before the completion of the full term of the Lok Sabha, usually due to a political crisis or instability.
- By-elections: These are elections held to fill a vacant seat in the Lok Sabha or state legislative assemblies due to the death, resignation, or disqualification of a member.
- All of these: This option includes both general elections, mid-term elections, and by-elections.
Therefore, the correct answer is General elections.

What makes an election democratic?
There are several factors that contribute to making an election democratic. These include:
Universal Adult Franchise:
- All adult citizens have the right to vote, regardless of their gender, caste, religion, or social status.
- This ensures that every eligible citizen has an equal opportunity to participate in the electoral process and have a say in choosing their representatives.
Fundamental Rights:
- The election process must uphold and protect the fundamental rights of the citizens.
- These rights include the freedom of speech, expression, association, and movement, which enable individuals to participate freely in political activities and express their opinions without fear of repression.
Free and Fair Election:
- Elections must be conducted in a free and fair manner, without any interference or manipulation.
- This ensures that all candidates and political parties have an equal chance to compete, and voters can make their choices without coercion or intimidation.
- The election process should be transparent, with proper rules and regulations in place to prevent fraud or malpractice.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, an election is considered democratic when it incorporates universal adult franchise, upholds fundamental rights, and ensures free and fair elections. These principles are essential for promoting inclusivity, equality, and the active participation of citizens in the democratic process.

Answer:
States with Maximum Lok Sabha Constituencies:
- Uttar Pradesh
Explanation:
- The Lok Sabha is the lower house of the Parliament of India and the total number of seats in the Lok Sabha is 545.
- The allocation of seats is based on the population of each state as per the latest census data.
- Among the given options, Uttar Pradesh has the maximum number of Lok Sabha constituencies.
- Uttar Pradesh has a total of 80 Lok Sabha constituencies, which is the highest among all states in India.
- Madhya Pradesh has 29 Lok Sabha constituencies, Maharashtra has 48 Lok Sabha constituencies, and Bihar has 40 Lok Sabha constituencies, which are lesser than Uttar Pradesh.
- Therefore, the correct answer is D: Uttar Pradesh.

Answer:
There are 543 constituencies in India for Lok Sabha elections. Here is a detailed explanation:
- Lok Sabha: Lok Sabha is the lower house of the Parliament of India. It represents the people of India. Members of Lok Sabha are elected by the eligible voters in each constituency.
- Constituencies: A constituency is a specific geographic area within a state or union territory. Each constituency is represented by a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Lok Sabha. The number of constituencies in India is determined based on factors like population, area, and administrative convenience.
- Delimitation: The process of dividing the country into constituencies is known as delimitation. It is carried out by the Delimitation Commission, which is appointed by the President of India. The delimitation process is done periodically to ensure that the constituencies are based on the latest demographic data.
- Number of Constituencies: Currently, there are 543 constituencies in India for Lok Sabha elections. This number is subject to change after each delimitation process.
- Representation: The number of constituencies in each state is determined based on the population of the state. States with larger populations have more constituencies, while states with smaller populations have fewer constituencies. This ensures proportional representation in the Lok Sabha.
- Elections: Lok Sabha elections are held every five years, unless dissolved earlier. Eligible voters in each constituency elect their representative by casting their votes. The candidate who receives the highest number of votes in a constituency becomes the Member of Parliament from that constituency.
- Importance: Lok Sabha elections are crucial as they determine the composition and functioning of the central government. The elected representatives from different constituencies come together to form the government and make important decisions on behalf of the country.
In conclusion, there are 543 constituencies in our country for Lok Sabha elections. These constituencies ensure that the representation in the Parliament is based on the population and demographics of different states and union territories.

Statement A: A minister flags off a new train in his constituency a week before polling day
- This action can be seen as an attempt to influence voters by showcasing the minister's work just before the election.
- It may give the impression that the minister is using government resources for personal gain or to gain electoral advantage.
Statement B: A candidate promises that she will get a new train for her constituency if she is elected
- This statement falls under the category of campaign promises that candidates often make to gain voter support.
- It is a fair electoral practice as long as the promise is within the legal and ethical boundaries and the candidate has the intention and capability to fulfill it if elected.
Statement C: Supporters of a candidate take the voters to a temple and make them take an oath that they will vote for him
- This action is a form of coercion and manipulation of voters' choices.
- It violates the principle of free and fair elections, as voters are being forced or pressured to vote for a particular candidate.
Statement D: The supporters of a candidate distribute blankets in slums in return for a promise for a vote
- This action can be seen as an attempt to buy votes by offering incentives in exchange for a vote.
- It is considered an unfair electoral practice as it undermines the integrity of the electoral process and manipulates voters with material goods.
Conclusion: Among the given statements, Statement B is the only fair electoral practice as it involves a candidate making a campaign promise to improve the constituency if elected. The other statements involve actions that either aim to influence voters through official position or resources (Statement A) or manipulate voters through coercion or incentives (Statements C and D).

Slogan given during West Bengal Assembly elections in 1977: Land to the tiller
During the West Bengal Assembly elections in 1977, the following slogans were given:
1. Garibi Hatao:
- This slogan was not associated with the West Bengal Assembly elections in 1977. It was a slogan used by Indira Gandhi during the 1971 general elections in India.
2. Save Democracy:
- This slogan was not associated with the West Bengal Assembly elections in 1977. It is a generic slogan used to promote the importance of democracy.
3. Land to the tiller:
- This slogan was associated with the West Bengal Assembly elections in 1977.
- The slogan represented the demand for land redistribution and agrarian reforms.
- It was used by the Left Front, led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), to appeal to the rural population and farmers.
4. Protect the self-respect of the Telugus:
- This slogan was not associated with the West Bengal Assembly elections in 1977. It was a slogan used during the separate Telangana movement in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
Therefore, the correct answer is C: Land to the tiller.

Is it good to have Political Competition?
- Political competition refers to the competition between different political parties and leaders for political power.
- It is generally considered beneficial to have political competition in a democratic system.
- Here are the reasons why political competition is considered good:
(ii) Political Competition helps to force political parties and leaders to serve people
- When there is competition among political parties, they are motivated to work hard and serve the people in order to gain their support and win elections.
- Political parties are more likely to listen to the concerns and demands of the people and address them in order to remain competitive.
(iii) It gives a fair chance to people for responsible government
- Political competition allows voters to have a choice between different political parties and leaders.
- This ensures that people have the opportunity to elect representatives who align with their values and who they believe will be responsible in governing the country.
Conclusion:
- In conclusion, political competition is considered good because it forces political parties and leaders to serve the people and gives a fair chance to people for a responsible government.

-No party or candidate shall include in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic.

-Criticism of other political parties, when made, shall be confined to their policies and programme, past record and work. Parties and Candidates shall refrain from criticism of all aspects of private life, not connected with the public activities of the leaders or workers of other parties. Criticism of other parties or their workers based on unverified allegations or distortion shall be avoided.

-There shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes. Mosques, Churches, Temples or other places of worship shall not be used as forum for election propaganda.

- The Ministers shall not combine their official visit with electioneering work and shall not also make use of official machinery or personnel during the electioneering work.

- Government transport including official air-crafts, vehicles, machinery and personnel shall not be used for furtherance of the interest of the party in power;

(i) Electoral Constituencies: First of all, the whole country is divided into different areas for purposes of elections. These areas are called electoral constituencies. 
The voters who live in an area elect the one representative. 

(ii) Voters' List: Once the constituencies are decided, the next step is to decide who can and who cannot vote. This decision cannot be left to anyone till the last day. In a democratic election, the list of those who are eligible to vote is prepared much before the election and given to everyone.

(iii) Nomination of Candidates: Every person who wishes to contest an election has to fill a nomination form by the due date, which the Election Commission fixes. Every candidate has to give some money as security deposit alongwith nomination form. 

(iv) Election Campaign: Election campaigns take place for a two-week period between the announcement of the final list of candidates and the date of polling. During this period the candidates contact their voters, political leaders address election meetings and political parties mobilise their supporters. 

(v) Polling and Counting of Votes: The final stage of an election is the day when the voters cast or poll their vote. That day is usually called the election day. Every person whose name is on the voters' list can go to a nearby polling booth. Once the voter goes inside the booth, the election officials identify him/her,  put a mark on his/her finger and allow him/her to cast his/her vote. There are electronic voting machines (EVMs) which are used to record votes. The machine shows the names of the candidates and the party symbols. What the voter has to do is to press the button against the name of the candidate he/she wants to give his/her vote. 

Once the polling is over, all the EVMs are sealed and taken to a secure place. A few days later, on a fixed date, all the EVMs from a constituency are opened and the votes secured by each candidate are counted. The candidate who secures the highest number of votes from a constituency is declared elected. 

Motive of Reserved Constituencies:
The motive of reserved constituencies is to ensure proper representation to the weaker sections of society, specifically the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). This practice is implemented in many countries, including India, to address historical and social disadvantages faced by these marginalized communities. The reservation of seats in legislative bodies aims to provide a platform for their voices to be heard and their interests to be represented effectively. Here are the key reasons behind the establishment of reserved constituencies:
1. Ensuring representation:
Reserved constituencies provide an opportunity for SC and ST communities to have their own representatives in legislative bodies, thus ensuring their voices are heard in the decision-making process. This helps in addressing their specific concerns and interests.
2. Overcoming historical disadvantages:
Historically, SCs and STs have been subjected to discrimination, social exclusion, and economic disadvantages. Reserved constituencies aim to mitigate these disparities and provide a platform for their political participation and representation.
3. Promoting social justice:
Reserved constituencies contribute to the larger goal of social justice by providing equal opportunities for political representation to all sections of society. It helps in creating a more inclusive and balanced political system.
4. Empowerment and upliftment:
Through reserved constituencies, SCs and STs are empowered to actively participate in the political process, which can lead to their overall upliftment and development. It provides them with a platform to advocate for their rights and work towards addressing the issues faced by their communities.
5. Reducing discrimination and prejudice:
Reserved constituencies act as a mechanism to reduce discrimination and prejudice against SCs and STs by giving them a fair chance to participate in the democratic process. It challenges the dominance of privileged groups and promotes social cohesion.
In conclusion, the motive behind reserved constituencies is to ensure proper representation and address historical disadvantages faced by marginalized communities such as SCs and STs. This practice promotes social justice, empowers the weaker sections, and contributes to a more inclusive and balanced political system.