ABSTRACT
Elections are the lifeline of any democracy, and for democracy to survive and strengthen it is important that elections are free and fair. The conduct of a free and fair election is possible only if the task of conducting the election is entrusted to an independent body which is free from any pressure from the government. Equally important are guidelines, rules, and regulations uniformly applied to all political parties at the time of conduct of elections. In India, there is an Election Commission, an independent body, entrusted with the powers of conducting elections under the prescribed rules and regulations. For analyzing the electoral trends and patterns, and their changes over time, it is important to first understand the electoral system, how elections are conducted in India, and under what rules. The chapter analyzes various provisions which govern the conduct of elections. There is a detailed discussion about the model code of conduct, provisions of representation of people’s act, various provisions, and the process which helps in resolving election disputes in India.
