The practice of one candidate representing two constituencies in elections has been a contentious issue in India. Recently the Chief Election Commissioner recommended that the seats a candidate can contest from be limited to one. This would necessitate an amendment to Section 33(7) of the Representation of the People Act (RPA). Some of the discussions revolve around the logistics, such as increased cost, and the impact on voter engagement.
The History of Contesting from Multiple Seats
Under Section 33(7) of the RPA, a candidate is currently allowed to contest from up to two constituencies. This is a change from pre-1996 rules, which allowed candidates to stand from more than two seats. Over the years, many politicians have utilized this clause to diversify their electoral strategies. They used it to split opposition votes, advertise their party’s influence across the nation, create ripple effects in constituencies surrounding theirs, favoring their party.
The Controversies Surrounding Multiple Constituencies
One major issue with Section 33(7) is its inherent contradiction with Section 70 of the RPA. Section 70 prohibits a candidate from holding two seats simultaneously in the Lok Sabha or state assembly. This leads to another significant problem: the financial strain of by-elections. When a candidate must vacate one of the seats they’ve won, a by-election is triggered, which incurs high costs. This has been evidenced with Narendra Modi’s victories in both Vadodara and Varanasi in 2014. Besides, repeated elections can lead to voter fatigue, resulting in a reduced turnout.
The Argument in Favor of Two Constituencies
Despite these issues, some argue that allowing a candidate to compete in two constituencies provides voters with a wider range of options. Eliminating this provision could curtail the rights of candidates and restrict voters’ choices.
Proposed Changes and Recommendations
The Election Commission has recommended amending Section 33(7) to allow only one constituency per candidate multiple times, most notably in 2004, 2010, 2016, and 2018. Further, it has suggested that if a candidate contests and wins two seats, they should bear the financial burden for the subsequent by-election.
Issues with Exit & Opinion Polls
Both opinion and exit polls can be controversial due to perceived bias in their conduct. Typically these surveys can potentially influence public sentiment and voting choices based on question wording, timing, and sample selection. Allegations have been made that these polls are often used as political tools, hence the recommendation for their restriction during the election period.
One Candidate, One Constituency
The principle of “one person, one vote” is a fundamental tenet of Indian democracy. With the objective of upholding democratic principles and reducing unnecessary expenditure and voter fatigue, the suggestion is being seriously examined to modify this to be “One person, one vote; one candidate, one constituency”.
Previous Year Question from UPSC Civil Services Examination
A question posed in the 2020 civil services examination serves to illustrate the complexities of India’s electoral regulations. The exam question delved into eligibility for ministerial positions and disqualification parameters related to criminal convictions, highlighting Article 164 of the Constitution and Section 8(3) of RPA.
