Millions of voters will head to the polls in India today (Monday) as general elections kick off in the country of 1.2 billion.
India has a bicameral legislature, but the upper house — loosely modelled on the House of Lords — has just 245 members. It is the lower house which has financial powers and the capacity to veto legislation.
A voting population of over 800 million will elect 543 parliamentarians for the lower house – the Lok Sabha — from across the country in nine phases. The 2009 Lok Sabha polls, incidentally, were held in five phases from April 16 to May 13.
The first states in the contest for a prize that brings with it power and money will be six constituencies in the north eastern states of Assam and Tripura on April 7.
The nine-phase schedule is as follows: six constituencies will go to the polls on April 7; seven constituencies will vote in the second phase on April 9; 92 constituencies will vote on April 10; five constituencies will vote on April 12; 122 constituencies will vote on April 17; 117 constituencies will vote on April 24; 89 constituencies will vote on April 30; 64 constituencies will vote on May 7; and 41 constituencies will vote in the ninth and final phase on May 12. Results are due to be announced on May 16.
Uttar Pradesh with 80 seats holds the key in the Lok Sabha. Other important ‘swing’ states are Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
There are two categories of voters that contestants and political parties are eyeing with trepidation and hope; this election is expected to witness the highest number of first time voters in the age bracket of 18 to19 year olds at 23 million, according to data released by the Election Commission. The minimum voting age in India is 18.
According to data released by the Election Commission, India’s electorate has grown by 4.7 times from the first general elections held in 1951 to 1952. Of this, first time voters in the age bracket of 18 to 19 year olds are 23 million.
There has, however, been no increase in the proportion of women voters in the last 40 years. The 2011 census has registered a greater increase in urban population than rural population for the first time since India’s independence, so political parties have to now think of ways of wooing urban voters too. A Washington Post story stated that Indian election campaigns were mimicking Obama-style campaign tactics.
“Are you on Facebook? Twitter? Do you use WhatsApp to chat with friends? We would like to send out some political jokes, Modi messages and videos. Can you post and circulate them among your friends?” one volunteer asked a probable voter.
For the first time
There are several firsts in the 2014 general election in India. These include:
The ‘none of the above (Nota) option in voting. The voter can opt for a Nota option which denotes his disgust with the existing options.
In all constituencies, electronic voting machines will be employed, which means even an unlettered candidate has to do nothing beyond pressing a button. However, a system of paper trail for electronic voting will be introduced in some constituencies on a trial basis.
Candidates in a parliamentary constituency in bigger states can spend up to Indian Rs7 million up from Indian Rs4 million in 2011.
[infogram url="" height="1700"]
Published in The Express Tribune, April 7th, 2014.
COMMENTS (36)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1726117332-0/Megan-Thee-Stallion-(1)1726117332-0-165x106.webp "article")
Democracy and secularism has greatly benefitted India.
@Sajida...plz take care of ur own house..u remind me of someone whos own house is on fire and just outside he is giving lecture on fire safety..Modi is better than most of ur politicians it shows ppl from grassroots can aspire to be in top positions in country..Plz let me know name of PM who rose from bottom to top..Rest all is lies spread by Congress and we educated one just ignore them. And yes we are what we are Communals or Seculars nd we don't want ur certificate.
Vote for NOTA Most political parties continue to field corrupt and criminal candidates. If the voter is convinced that no candidate is acceptable, she must register a vote of rejection for all candidates and “Vote for NOTA”. All electronic voting machines (EVMs) now have a "None of the Above (NOTA)” button below the name of the last contesting candidate. The button can be pressed by a voter to reject all the candidates in a poll in case he finds them unsuitable. If the voter presses the button next to NOTA, his desire not to vote for any of the candidates in the fray will get recorded in the EVM in secrecy. If, the votes polled by a candidate declared elected officially, is LESS than the votes in favor of NOTA then, the winner candidate has lost his moral authority to represent the voters and he must be made to resign under PEACEFUL MORAL PUBLIC PRESSURE. This is a nonviolent approach as practiced by the father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi during our freedom struggle and by Anna Hazara in recent years.
@Tarakseel: To be secular is not a luxury but a necessity for India to remain India. No other opton.
@Raj - USA:bilawal wants revenge through the ballot from dictators but your Amit shah wants revenge from those who lost there homes and lives in Gujrat and getting compensation for it. @Lalit: At least we are what we claim to be unlike those who preach secularism and breed communalism and by the way your Mr Modi wants INdia to be The Hindu Republic so Good luck to all those who are not..
Its funny that a rabidly fundamentalist Pakistan is lecturing India on secularism.
its wonderful to see people from Islamic republic of Pakistan worry about the fate of secularism in India.
Dipak@sajida: Only Pakistan is religion oriented country as it was formed in 1947. India has always remained secular, especially Modi will make sure everyone is treated equally. It's time to get rid of dynasty and Congress forever.
@tickoo yes it does 10th April to 7th may is their state election date for polls. @sajida. There is a complication. 80% secular population don't have option. Can't vote for 54years ruled and loot party congress again after 10 years of shabby governance. Time for change.No other option but bjp along for their development manifesto. Although now ram temple in their manifesto is worrying. Thinking bjp or aap But aap has lost its credibility after resigning in 49 days promising change. "highly risky unstable government option if voted" they have anti dams, anti nuclear plants, anti business people as some candidates,not contesting from all seats but very few, doesn't have much presence or touch among people in non Hindi speaking states. So basically its waste vote. War is between regional fractions and bjp for winning. Too many regional fractions as central government is dangerous combo. Different ideology, eccentric like mulayam,maya,jaya,mamta its a nightmare. Safest bet is largest party cong or bjp. Cong will be voted out for looting. No idea who forms majority in such case.
@Sajida, Referring to your last comment, if you live in Pakistan, please take care and be safe. May God protect you.
@Jahangir Chauhan: I have got a suggestion for you friend -- if you support the "disputed" aspect of voting in Indian Jammu and Kashmir, then you might as well extend it to ALL of the rest of India as well... and don't recognize (sorry, "dispute") ANY government that forms in Delhi. The fact of the matter is that the representatives of J&K take the same oath and are elected under the same laws as are the others. If you don't recognize them, it is tantamount to not recognizing ANYONE else in the Indian Parliament! The sooner you accept this, then sooner can Pakistanis like you ever hope to have "normal" relations with India. Else, it is enemies forever. The choice is yours...
@Jahangir Chauhan: And WHY NOT...??? I am from Jammu myself, and have friends all over the state (both Hindu and Muslim) and have seen that such politics been rejected by J&K-ites by they voting in HUGE NUMBERS at ALL levels of government in the past (even more than many other parts of India), by rejecting the calls of pro-Pakistan parties... there can be no "dispute" on this count... but it remains to be seen what happens this time... its a choice for us (J&K-ites) if we wish to move ahead with India or remain wedded to the past with Pakistan!
When Benazir Bhutto and Bilawal Bhutto says "Democracy is the biggest revenge" it is a visionary statement, but when Amit Singh asks voters to take revenge through democratic process of ballot it becomes a communal statement.
@Tickoo: a big NO.
@what the heck . When it comes to playing politics ,religion is the name of the game,whether India or Pakistan.i would like a state to be secular rather than a religion oriented one
@sajida: The government run by a PM who said "Minorities have the first right on national resources" can hardly be called secular unless your definition of "secular" is "pro muslim".
Its time we made the country truly secular
Modi will be our next PM for a better India
@sajida: Sorry dear, sun may not rise in the east, but modi will come in power
Excellent decision to include "None of the above" option on the ballot paper. This should be done in Pakistan too. It will encourage a lot of people to come out and vote even if they don't support any candidate - this is a great step towards ensuring full participation in elections. Good luck to Indians from Karachi!
There is no danger to the secular identity of India Modi or any one else,religion has no role to play in the governance though there is no dearth of people like Zaid Hamid in the country.
@sajida: do not agree with you, in the current scenario in India, congress and its partners have given new meaning to secular for votebank politics and muslim appeasement - now secular is synonymous with muslim and communal is synonymous with hindu.
india should only strive for non-religious without going into the secular/non secular debate
@James: exactly,this is what Modi and Amit are saying ....India has gone too long a way for its secular image,,the time has come to show its real face.
Good democratic process.
@ Pakistani
And I'm really itching to see how the "None of the above" Party does !
Good luck, India! Itching to see how the Aam Aadmi Party does.
Long process of voting has just begun for Indians, hope they will choose their right of vote wisely and cautiously.
@The Khan-Waterloo,Ontario: Does that include the "disputed" ones (of Jammu and Kashmir) ?
@sajida:
Even if Modi/BJP comes, the secular identity will remain intact........India has gone long way in terms of secularism where it cannot return back.........so, no need to be afraid of India's secular identity.......:)
good luck for aam admi party
Lets hope India keeps its secular identity intact by rejecting people like Modi and Amit singh
BIGGEST Democracy on the face of the planet is on Poll mode.Proud to be an Indian Voter
Good luck to Indians
Congress is Leading in Assam and Tripura
May the Games Begin!!!