Race To Raisina Hill: All You Need To Know About India’s Presidential Elections

The race to Raisina Hill is all set to begin as President Pranab Mukherjee will exit from the Rashtrapati Bhawan next month. Both the ruling NDA and the opposition are yet open their cards on the presidential candidate. While the ruling alliance is likely to announce its nominee in the next few days, the opposition is seeking to unite all non-NDA parties under a common platform to put up a consensus candidate for the presidential election.Here is the schedule of the elections:Issue of Election Commission’s notification calling the election14-06-2017(Wednesday)Last date for making nominations28-06-2017(Wednesday)Date for the scrutiny of nominations29-06-2017(Thursday)Last date for the withdrawal of candidatures01-07-2017(Saturday)Date on which a poll shall, if necessary, be taken17-07-2017(Monday)Date on which counting, if required, shall be taken20-07-2017(Thursday)Here’s all that you need to know about the Presidential election process [Source: Election Commission of India] What are the Role and the Power of the President of India? Answer: India has adopted the system of Parliamentary democracy, where in the powers of the Government are vested in the political office of the Prime Minister. The President of India holds the highest elective office in India. He is the head of state of the Republic of India and is the formal head of the Union legislature and executive and is also the Supreme Commander of the Indian Defence Forces. The President of India is the first citizen and represents the Indian nation and therefore does not belong to any particular party. The President of India, in consultation with the Council of Ministers, makes all major appointments under the Constitution-PM, Ministers, Chief Justice and judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, CAG, Attorney General, Governors, Chief Election Commissioner and other members of the Election Commission of India etc. He has the powers to summon and prorogue the sessions of both Houses of Parliament and to dissolve the Lok Sabha. The powers to grant pardon and clemency vest in the President of India. Who elects the President of India? Answer: The President is elected by the representatives of the people through an Electoral College, which consists of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States including NCT of Delhi and the Union Territory of Puducherry. What is the term of the office of the President? Answer: The President shall hold office for a term of 5 years from the date on which he enters upon his office. He shall, however, continue to hold office notwithstanding the expiry of his term, until his successor enters upon his office. When is the election of the Office of President of India held? Answer: Under the provisions of sub-section (3) of section 4 of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952, the notification under sub-section (1) of section 4 of the said Act calling the election can be issued by the Election Commission on or after the sixtieth day before the expiry of the term of office of the outgoing President. The election schedule shall be so fixed, that the President elect is able to enter upon his office on the day following the expiry of the term of the outgoing President. What is the legal framework for the election to the Office of President of India? Answer: Election to the Office of President of India is governed by the provisions contained in Articles 54 to 58 and 62 of the Constitution of India and the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952 and the Rules made thereunder. Who conducts the election to the Office of President of India? Answer: Under Article 324 of the Constitution of India, the authority to conduct elections to the Office of President is vested in the Election Commission of India. What electoral system/process is adopted for the election to the office of the President? Answer: As per Article 55(3) of the Constitution of India, the election of the President shall be held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot. What are the Qualifications required by a candidate to contest the election to the Office of the President of India? Answer: A candidate should satisfy the following requirements to contest the election to the Office of President: - Must be a citizen of India. Must have completed 35 years of age. Must be eligible to be a member of the Lok Sabha. Must not hold any office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State or under any local or other authority subject to the control of any of the said Governments Exceptions are the offices of President and Vice-President, Governor of any State and Ministers of Union or State. Apart from the above what are the conditions to be fulfilled by a candidate for his nomination to be valid? Answer: A nomination paper of a candidate...

Race To Raisina Hill: All You Need To Know About India’s Presidential Elections

Apoorva Mandhani

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