ABSTRACT
The credit of holding free and fair elections goes to the Election Commission of India, the institution entrusted with the powers of holding elections in India. On the world map of all the democratic countries, India is always referred to as the largest democracy in the world. A large number of elected representatives in India at all levels have a tainted background. Concerns are also raised about the increasing role of money power in the Indian elections. Elections have become an arena where there is a power play of money and other resources. The Indian elections during the last two decades have witnessed increased participation of the people. The analyses suggest that the number of winners winning elections with less than 50% votes was slightly higher during the decade 1989–2009 when India witnessed three decades of a coalition government where power was shared by a large number of political parties.
