Decades-old tradition set to continue as India goes to polls

New Delhi: India's tryst with Parliamentary democracy started much before it attained independence in 1947.

Being a British colony, Indians experienced the power of the ballot when they participated in the first ever elections for provincial assemblies in 1937.

It was but natural that the writers of the Indian constitution adopted the British model of bicameral parliament for India.

While Lok Sabha (House of People) is elected directly by people, the Rajya Sabha (House of States), which is also called the Upper House, is elected by members of state legislative assemblies.

Unlike the presidential model followed by many countries including the US and France, where voters vote to elect the president directly, in India, Members of Parliament are elected from each of the 543 constituencies. The largest party elects its leader who in turns becomes the prime minister.

The basic difference between the presidential and parliamentary democracy is that while in the presidential form, the emphasis is on an individual, in the parliamentary form the focus is on a party.

While a popular individual can become president in the US even though his party may be in the minority in the US Congress, a party has to win a majority of seats to form the government under the parliamentary system.

Often several parties come together to form coalition governments when no single party gets the majority.

There is no bar on members of the Upper House from becoming prime minister or a minister. Even a non-MP can become prime minister or minister. They have to become an MP within six months of assuming office.

The President of the Republic, who is elected by members of the two Houses of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies, appoints a council of minister on recommendations of the prime minister.

No specific mention is made in the constitution about the powers of the prime minister other than that he is supposed to be the first amongst equals.

The Lok Sabha is elected every five years based on universal adult suffrage, under which anyone who is above the age of 18 has the right to vote irrespective of caste, creed, religion or gender.

However, one has to be above 25 years of age to contest for the Lok Sabha.