Democratic Government in Indian Context
Democracy has been regained after a great many sacrifices and struggles. The USA became the first democratic nation. In India, democracy dawned with the
coming of independence, although it came into effect after India became a
Republic in 1950. Saudi Arabia gained democracy in 2011.
India is the largest democracy in the world. It has a
democratic set-up, i.e., the government is elected by the people and is
answerable to the people.
The head of the state is the President, who is
elected indirectly by the people. The citizens of India choose their
representatives, who, in turn, constitute the Electoral College which
ultimately elects the President. Elections are the pillar of democracy.
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| Election Manifesto |
India has a multi-party system, i.e., a large number of
parties exist within the system, which competes with each other in the
elections. Countries like the United Kingdom and the United States of America
have a two-party system. As the name implies, such a system allows only two
political parties to exist. The party which wins the elections forms the
government; the ordering party forms the opposition.
Role of the Opposition
The role of the opposition is to keep a check on the
government and their policies, to ensure
that they do not misgovern or become despotic. If the people are not happy with
the party they have voted into power, they can devoid it of power by voting
against it in the next election. The other party then gets a chance to fulfil
the wishes of the people.
DEMOCRACY
As said in the previous chapter, democracy means ‘a
government of the people, by the people, for the people’ India follows a
representative form of democracy. In this form, the people choose their
representatives, who in turn, run the government on their behalf. The common
man has the right to elect his representative. All adults in a democratic
country have the right to vote.
This is known as the Universal Adult Franchise. In
India, a person above 18 years of age can cast vote. The important features of
Indian democracy is:
1. The written
Constitution
3. Political
Parties
4. Elections
5. Public
Opinion
6. Special
interest Groups
7. The media (the fourth Estate)- a very powerful check on misrule.
Why are
elections important? In a democratic country like ours, elections are the key
components of equality and justice. They are essential for a healthy democracy.
Elections
are important because:
1. It helps us
to keep a check on our leader at regular intervals.
2. It helps us
to select the most appropriate candidate for the decision-making process.
3. It is not
physically possible for the whole population to sit together and take decisions.
Even if everyone sits together, they may not have the required skill, knowledge
and expertise to make the decisions.
4. Time is
also required to take such decisions.
Qualification
of a candidate for election
India is a democracy where the principle of Universal Adult
Franchise operates. Any citizen who is 18 years of age and above can vote,
irrespective of caste, creed, colour or gender. The qualification of a
candidate to stand for elections, as laid down by the Constitution should be:
1. He/she
should be a citizen of India.
2. He/she
should not be less than 18 years of age.
3. He/she
should not be a lunatic, bankrupt or a traitor to the country.
4. He/she
should not have been convicted for any serious crime.
HOW IS
GOVERNMENT FORMED?
A political party comes into being
when people with similar ideologies come together. A political ideology is a set of preconceived ideas about what the
best political system is and the best way to govern it.
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| AAP Election Manifesto |
The candidates who contest an election are chosen by the
respective political party. People who do not believe in the ideology of any
political party, contest alone. They are known as Independents. A party chooses a candidate on the basis of his or
her ability, commitment to the people of the particular area and loyalty to the
party.
Prior to elections, a political party prepares a document listing various policies and programmes which the party would take up if elected power. This is known as a party’s manifesto.
Elections in India, covering both Central and state
governments, are held at intervals of five years. After the last day of voting
is over, the party which wins the majority of seats in the legislature forms
the government.
In case a party does not achieve an outright majority the sole right to form the government, two or
even more parties join hands to form a government. This is known as a coalition government.
The process of regular elections helps keep a check on the
leadership and governance of the country. The policy-making for the country is
basically in the hands of the people. They have an indirect say in the changes
to be brought about, i.e., through their elected representations. When a
particular political party loses an election, it is a direct reflection of the
public’s negative opinion about the functioning of that party. Thus, they want
a better government.
The principles of freedom of expression, equality, liberty,
freedom, fair election, the participation of masses, etc. work best in a democracy.
The need to establish the link between the government and the governed is very
crucial. Through the electoral system, the people participate in the decision-making process.
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