General elections in India
Encyclopedia
The general elections in India are the elections by which the India
n electorate chooses the various members of the Lok Sabha
in the Parliament
for the next term of five years. The electorate also indirectly votes for the Prime Minister
as the leader chosen by the majority party or the majority coalition becomes the next Prime Minister.
The general elections are the largest election exercise in the world.
Due to the completion of the Indian general election, 2009
, the next election should take place by 2014 according to the constitution of India
. The Prime Minister
can ask the President
to have the election earlier if he/she chooses. The current ruling party losing the motion of confidence can also potentially result in an election occurring much earlier.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n electorate chooses the various members of the Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
in the Parliament
Parliament of India
The Parliament of India is the supreme legislative body in India. Founded in 1919, the Parliament alone possesses legislative supremacy and thereby ultimate power over all political bodies in India. The Parliament of India comprises the President and the two Houses, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha...
for the next term of five years. The electorate also indirectly votes for the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of India
The Prime Minister of India , as addressed to in the Constitution of India — Prime Minister for the Union, is the chief of government, head of the Council of Ministers and the leader of the majority party in parliament...
as the leader chosen by the majority party or the majority coalition becomes the next Prime Minister.
The general elections are the largest election exercise in the world.
Due to the completion of the Indian general election, 2009
Indian general election, 2009
India held general elections to the 15th Lok Sabha in five phases between 16 April 2009 and 13 May 2009. With an electorate of 714 million , it was the largest democratic election in the world to date.By constitutional requirement, elections to the Lok Sabha must be...
, the next election should take place by 2014 according to the constitution of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The Prime Minister
Prime Minister of India
The Prime Minister of India , as addressed to in the Constitution of India — Prime Minister for the Union, is the chief of government, head of the Council of Ministers and the leader of the majority party in parliament...
can ask the President
President of India
The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...
to have the election earlier if he/she chooses. The current ruling party losing the motion of confidence can also potentially result in an election occurring much earlier.