The 2024 Indian general election
So, what iS a general election?
India is a democratic country run by an elected prime minister and other ministers. They are elected for a term of five years. After the term, elections are held to decide who should become the prime minister. These elections are called general elections. A general election is a huge event in India where people can vote to choose leaders who will make important decisions for the country.
India follows a parliamentary form of government. This is different from a presidential form of government. In this form, people select members of parliament (MPs). These MPs in turn, decide who will become the prime minister. In the presidential form of government, people directly elect their president who runs the government.
For the election, the country is divided into areas called constituencies or seats. India is divided into 543 constituencies. Each area votes for one person to represent them in Lok Sabha, the lower house of the parliament. Some seats are reserved for people from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) to make sure everyone has a chance to be represented. When an election happens for all the seats, it is called a general election. When it occurs only for a few seats, it is called a by-election.
The first general election was held way back in 1951–52. It was the first time Indians could vote after independence. The politicians belonging to the Indian National Congress (INC) won in most constituencies, which is why its leader, Jawaharlal Nehru, became the first elected prime minister. Since then, India has seen 17 general elections and 14 prime ministers.
The contenders:
The main players in the election are political parties. Think of them as teams, each with their own ideas on how to run the country. Currently, in India, there are two major parties – the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the INC. There are also many smaller parties. Both BJP and INC have teamed up with these parties and formed alliances known as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A), respectively. The BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been in charge since 2014. People are curious to see if the BJP will continue their winning streak or if the INC will make a strong comeback. It’s really exciting to see what will happen next.
Each party makes promises in a document called ‘manifesto’. They talk about how they will improve schools, hospitals and parks, and what they will do to make India a better place. BJP’s manifesto lies around a formula called ‘GYAN’ which focuses on four important groups – the poor (Garib), the youth (Yuva), farmers (Annadata) and women (Nari). They want to ensure that these groups have better lives with more opportunities. They will achieve this by building new schools, creating more jobs, helping farmers grow more crops, and making sure women can learn and work safely.
The Congress Party’s ‘manifesto’ involves a plan called ‘Nyay’, which means justice. They promise to take care of five important groups – the youth, women, farmers, workers and poor. They want to make sure these groups are happy and healthy.
Simultaneous State Assembly Elections: During the general election, four states – Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim – will also have their Legislative Assembly elections.
How does Voting work?
Technology has changed elections a lot. We now have electronic voting machines (EVM) to vote instead of ballot papers. Voting is done at polling stations. People show their voter ID card and then secretly choose their favourite party on an EVM.
The entire election process is taken care of by an organisation called the Election Commission of India (ECI). The ECI is like the umpire who makes sure that elections are fair for everyone. They have a rule book called the Model Code of Conduct. This guides all political parties about what they can and cannot do during elections. For example, parties can ask people to vote but they cannot bribe them in cash or kind for votes.
Who has Voting rights?
Any Indian citizen who is aged 18 or older has the right to vote. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from; if you are an adult, you can vote. Every vote is important because it’s a chance for the citizens to have a say in how India is run.
India will now witness history in the making. Our voices matter, and our votes shape the destiny of our great nation. So, young citizens, pay attention to, discuss and learn about the democratic process. Because if you are 18 and above, you are the part of this incredible journey and if you below 18, you can be the messenger to spread awareness about this. You are the future of this country!
