The framers of our constitution opted for free political competition i...
• Elections are all about political competition. This competition takes various forms. The most obvious form is the competition among political parties. At the constituency level, it takes the form of competition among several candidates. If there is no competition, elections will become pointless.
• Clearly, an electoral competition has many demerits. It creates a sense of disunity and ‘factionalism’ in every locality. Different political parties and leaders often level allegations against one another. Parties and candidates often use dirty tricks to win elections. Some people say that this pressure to win electoral fights does not allow sensible long-term policies to be formulated. Some good people who may wish to serve the country do not enter this arena. They do not like the idea of being dragged into unhealthy competition.
• Our Constitution makers were aware of these problems. Yet they opted for free competition in elections as the way to select our future leaders. Political leaders all over the world, like all other professionals, are motivated by a desire to advance their political careers. Therefore the need is to set up a system where political leaders are rewarded for serving the people and punished for not doing so. Who decides this reward or punishment? The simple answer is: the people. This is what electoral competition does. Regular electoral competition provides incentives to political parties and leaders. They know that if they raise issues that people want to be raised, their popularity and chances of victory will increase in the next elections. But if they fail to satisfy the voters with their work they will not be able to win again.
Hence the correct answer is option (d).
View all questions of this test
The framers of our constitution opted for free political competition i...
Introduction:
The framers of our constitution opted for free political competition in elections as the way to select our leaders because it provides incentive to the political parties to voice the concerns of the people. This answer will explain why option 'D' is the correct answer.
Explanation:
1. Representation of the people:
- Free political competition in elections ensures that the political parties have to compete to win the support of the people.
- In a democracy, it is important for the leaders to represent the will and aspirations of the people they govern.
- By allowing multiple parties to compete in elections, the framers of the constitution aimed to ensure that different sections of society have a voice in the political process.
2. Accountability and responsiveness:
- Free political competition promotes accountability and responsiveness among political parties.
- When parties are vying for power, they are more likely to listen to the concerns of the people and address them in order to gain their support.
- Political parties need to be responsive to the needs and demands of the citizens if they want to win elections.
- This ensures that the concerns of the people are taken into account in policy-making and governance.
3. Pluralism and diversity:
- Free political competition allows for the existence of multiple political parties with different ideologies and priorities.
- This promotes pluralism and diversity in political discourse, as different parties represent different sections of society and bring forth diverse perspectives.
- It prevents the dominance of a single ideology or party, which could lead to a lack of representation for certain groups or viewpoints.
4. Check on power:
- Free political competition acts as a check on the concentration of power in the hands of a few.
- It ensures that no single party or individual can monopolize political power.
- This promotes a system of checks and balances, preventing the abuse of power and fostering a healthy democratic system.
Conclusion:
The framers of our constitution opted for free political competition in elections because it provides incentive to the political parties to voice the concerns of the people. It ensures representation, accountability, responsiveness, pluralism, and acts as a check on power. By allowing multiple parties to compete, the system promotes a healthy democratic process where the voices and aspirations of the people are heard and addressed.
To make sure you are not studying endlessly, EduRev has designed UPSC study material, with Structured Courses, Videos, & Test Series. Plus get personalized analysis, doubt solving and improvement plans to achieve a great score in UPSC.