Chapter-4
ELECTORAL POLITICS
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Q.1.What were the promises made by Devi Lal in the Assembly Elections in 1987?
ANS: In the election campaign, Devi Lal said that if his party won the elections, his government would
waive the loans of farmers and small businessmen. He promised that this would be the first action of his
government.
Q.2.What is Election?
ANS: Election is a mechanism by which people can choose their representatives at regular intervals and
change them if they wish to do so. It is the process through which people choose their representatives to
form the government.
.
Q. 3.Why do we need elections?
ANS: i) To make the rule of the people elections are necessary. In most democracies people rule through
representatives. To choose the representatives we need election. ii) To find out if people like their
representatives or not elections are required to elect or not to elect. iii) To ensure that these representatives
rule as per the wishes of people elections are required. iv) To make sure that those who the people don’t
like do not remain in power elections are required.
Q.4.What are the choices that voters normally make in an election?
ANS: In an election the voters may make the following choices: 1.They can choose who will make laws
for them. 2They can choose who will form the government and take major decisions. 3. They can choose
the party whose policies will guide the government and law making.
Q.5.What are the minimum conditions of a democratic election? (What makes an election
democratic?)
ANS: 1. First, everyone should be able to choose. This means that everyone should have one vote and
every vote should have equal value.
2. Second, there should be something to choose from. Parties and candidates should be free to contest
elections and should offer some real choice to the voters.
3. Third, the choice should be offered at regular intervals. Elections must be held regularly after every
few years.
4. Fourth, the candidate preferred by the people should get elected.
5. Fifth, elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner where people can choose as they really
wish.
Q.6.What are the de-merits/disadvantages of political competition?
ANS: An electoral competition has many demerits. I. It creates a sense of disunity and ‘factionalism’ in
every locality. II. Different political parties and leaders often level allegations against one another. III.
Parties and candidates often use dirty tricks to win elections. IV. Some people say that the pressure to win
ELECTORAL POLITICS
=======================================================================
Q.1.What were the promises made by Devi Lal in the Assembly Elections in 1987?
ANS: In the election campaign, Devi Lal said that if his party won the elections, his government would
waive the loans of farmers and small businessmen. He promised that this would be the first action of his
government.
Q.2.What is Election?
ANS: Election is a mechanism by which people can choose their representatives at regular intervals and
change them if they wish to do so. It is the process through which people choose their representatives to
form the government.
.
Q. 3.Why do we need elections?
ANS: i) To make the rule of the people elections are necessary. In most democracies people rule through
representatives. To choose the representatives we need election. ii) To find out if people like their
representatives or not elections are required to elect or not to elect. iii) To ensure that these representatives
rule as per the wishes of people elections are required. iv) To make sure that those who the people don’t
like do not remain in power elections are required.
Q.4.What are the choices that voters normally make in an election?
ANS: In an election the voters may make the following choices: 1.They can choose who will make laws
for them. 2They can choose who will form the government and take major decisions. 3. They can choose
the party whose policies will guide the government and law making.
Q.5.What are the minimum conditions of a democratic election? (What makes an election
democratic?)
ANS: 1. First, everyone should be able to choose. This means that everyone should have one vote and
every vote should have equal value.
2. Second, there should be something to choose from. Parties and candidates should be free to contest
elections and should offer some real choice to the voters.
3. Third, the choice should be offered at regular intervals. Elections must be held regularly after every
few years.
4. Fourth, the candidate preferred by the people should get elected.
5. Fifth, elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner where people can choose as they really
wish.
Q.6.What are the de-merits/disadvantages of political competition?
ANS: An electoral competition has many demerits. I. It creates a sense of disunity and ‘factionalism’ in
every locality. II. Different political parties and leaders often level allegations against one another. III.
Parties and candidates often use dirty tricks to win elections. IV. Some people say that the pressure to win
