Author: Pankaj Chowdhury


India is the world’s largest democracy and a socialist, secular republic. The fifteenth of August 1947 saw the creation of the modern nation-state of India. India is a parliamentary constitutional democracy, and its core political principle is the holding of frequent, free, and fair elections. The State and Union Territory Legislative Assemblies, the Presidency and Vice-Presidency, the membership of the two Houses of Parliament, and the makeup of the government are all decided by the results of these elections.

Electoral System in India

Electors: This term refers to the total number of registered voters eligible to vote in an election. It includes all citizens who have registered and are on the electoral rolls.

Contestants: These candidates stand for election in a particular constituency. Contestants can represent different political parties or be independents.

Voters Polled: This indicates the number of voters who have cast their votes in an election. It is a subset of the total number of electors.

Turnout: Voter turnout is the percentage of electors who have voted in an election. It is calculated by dividing the number of voters polled by the total number of electors and multiplying by 100. High voter turnout is often seen as an indicator of the legitimacy and engagement in the electoral process.

Classification of Election Results in India

Won: This term refers to the candidate who has received the highest number of valid votes in an election and is, therefore, declared the winner.

Second: This refers to the candidate who received the second-highest number of valid votes in an election, coming in as the runner-up.

Third: This refers to the candidate who received the third-highest number of valid votes in an election.

FD (Forfeited Deposit): This term refers to a situation where a candidate forfeits their security deposit due to not securing a minimum percentage of votes. In India, a candidate must secure at least one-sixth (16.67%) of the total valid votes polled in their constituency to retain their deposit. If they fail to do so, their deposit is forfeited.

Re-elected Winners: In the context of elections, re-elected winners are candidates who have successfully won their seat in a subsequent election after having previously won the same seat in an earlier election. This term refers to incumbents who have retained their position through successive electoral victories.

For example, if a Member of Parliament (MP) or a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) wins an election, serves their term, and then wins again in the next election, they are considered a re-elected winner. Re-election can indicate continued voter support and approval of the candidate’s performance during their previous term.

Seats Won: This refers to the number of parliamentary or legislative seats a particular party or candidate has secured in an election. For example, if a party wins 100 seats in a 543-seat Lok Sabha, it means the party will have 100 representatives in the lower house of Parliament.

Vote (%): This is the percentage of the total votes a party or candidate has received. It is calculated by dividing the number of votes a party or candidate received by the total number of votes cast and multiplying by 100. For example, if a party gets 50 million votes out of a total of 200 million votes cast, its vote share is 25%.

Seat Share (%): This is the percentage of the total seats a party has won out of the seats available. It is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the party by the total number of seats and multiplying by 100. For example, if a party wins 200 seats out of 543, its seat share is approximately 36.83%.

Strike Rate: This refers to the efficiency of a party in converting votes into seats. It is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the number of constituencies contested and multiplying by 100. A higher strike rate indicates better efficiency. For example, if a party contests 300 seats and wins 150, its strike rate is 50%. 

Classification of Political Parties in India

National Party: A political party recognized by the Election Commission of India (ECI) as having a presence across multiple states and fulfilling specific criteria. To qualify as a national party, a party must meet at least one of the following conditions:

(a) Secure at least 6% of the valid votes polled in any four or more states in a general election to the Lok Sabha or to the Legislative Assembly and win at least 4 seats in the Lok Sabha from any state or state.

(b) Win at least 2% of the total seats in the Lok Sabha from at least three different states.

(c) Be recognized as a state party in at least four states.

National parties have a significant influence on national policies and politics. Examples include the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (INC).

State Party: A political party the ECI recognizes as having a significant presence in a particular state or state. To qualify as a state party, a party must meet at least one of the following criteria:

(a) Secure at least 6% of the valid votes polled in a state legislative assembly or general election to the Lok Sabha and win at least 2 seats in the state legislative assembly.

(b) Win at least 3% of the total seats in the state legislative assembly or at least 3, whichever is more.

(c) Win at least 1 seat in the Lok Sabha for every 25 seats or any fraction allotted to the state.

(d) Secure at least 8% of the total valid votes polled in a state.

State parties primarily influence state-level policies and politics. Examples include the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) in West Bengal and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu.

Registered Parties: These are political parties registered with the Election Commission of India under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Registration is the first step for any political party to be recognized legally and to participate in the electoral process. Registered parties must adhere to the rules and regulations set by the ECI, including submission of annual audit reports and election expenditure statements.

Unrecognized Parties: Within the category of registered parties, some may need to meet the criteria for recognition as a state or national party. These are known as unrecognized parties. Although legally registered with the ECI and can contest elections, they do not enjoy recognized parties’ privileges, such as a reserved party symbol, free access to electoral rolls, or time slots on state-run media during election campaigns. These parties are usually smaller and may not have a significant electoral presence or influence.

Independent: An independent candidate contests an election without affiliation with any political party. These candidates run on their platforms and do not have the backing or resources of a party. Independents may have local support and sometimes win elections, particularly in smaller constituencies or regions with solid personal influence.

Alliance: This refers to a coalition of two or more political parties that come together, often to contest elections jointly, support a common agenda, or form a government. Alliances can be pre-poll (formed before elections) or post-poll (formed after elections based on the results). Examples include the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

Classification of Votes in India

Valid Vote: This refers to a vote that has been adequately cast and counted in an election. It means the vote adheres to all the rules and regulations set by the Election Commission, such as being marked correctly on the ballot paper or electronic voting machine (EVM) and not invalidated due to errors.

NOTA Vote: “NOTA” stands for “None of the Above.” It is an option provided to voters in India to indicate disapproval of all the candidates contesting the election. If voters do not wish to vote for candidates, they can choose NOTA. Including NOTA ensures that voters can exercise their rights without being forced to choose a candidate they do not support.

Classification of Constituencies in India

Parliamentary Constituencies: India is divided into multiple parliamentary constituencies, each represented by one Member of Parliament (MP) in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament. Each constituency elects one MP through a general election held every five years. The boundaries of these constituencies are determined based on population and other factors, ensuring representation for all regions.

Assembly Constituency: This territorial subdivision was created to elect a representative to the State Legislative Assembly. Each state in India is divided into multiple assembly constituencies, each of which elects one Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). The boundaries of assembly constituencies are determined based on population and geographical considerations.

Classification of Reserved Constituencies in India

SC (Scheduled Caste) Constituency: These are assembly or parliamentary constituencies reserved for candidates from the Scheduled Caste. The reservation ensures representation for historically disadvantaged groups in the legislative process. Only candidates from Scheduled Castes can contest elections in these reserved constituencies, although all eligible voters within the constituency can vote.

ST (Scheduled Tribe) Constituency: Similar to SC constituencies, these are reserved for candidates who belong to the Scheduled Tribes. The reservation helps provide political representation to indigenous communities who have been marginalized. Only candidates from Scheduled Tribes can contest elections in these constituencies, but all eligible voters within the constituency can vote.

GEN (General) Constituency: These are not reserved constituencies open to candidates from any community or category. Any eligible candidate, regardless of caste or tribe, can contest elections in general constituencies. All eligible voters within the constituency can vote.

Representativeness of Winners The percentage of representation is calculated by dividing the votes polled for the winner by the electorate, which is the total number of registered voters. This value represents the percentage of votes won by the winning candidate among the constituency’s total number of registered voters.

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