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Parties and Candidates

India India

PC001

Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)
Question:What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s): b. Deposit requirement (specify amount)
Comments: In India, only candidates contest elections. However, some of these candidates are set-up and sponsored by political parties. There is no separate registration of political parties for contesting an election. Registration of political parties is done by the Election Commission (section 29 A of Representation Act 1951) when certain simple requirements, such as contribution of the party, name, and registered office of the party etc. are met. Also, for the registration of political parties, Rs. 10.000/- needs to be paid as a processing fee. More important is the 'recognition' of political parties either as 'national party' or 'state party', which depends upon geographical spread of the party and a certain percentage of votes obtained in the last preceding general election. Candidates set up by recognized parties get preferential treatment in the allocation of election symbol reserved for such party.
Source: The Representation of the People Act, 1951, Section 29 A: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/asia/IN/india-representation-of-the-people-act-1951/view
Verified: 2024/06/25
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
PC003

Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)
Question:What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s): a. Age
b. Citizenship
d. Residence
j. Other
Comments: 3(1) A candidate shall not be deemed to be duly nominated for election from a constituency unless he deposits or causes to be deposited, — (a) in the case of an election from a Parliamentary constituency, [a sum of twenty-five thousand rupees or where the candidate is a member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, a sum of twelve thousand five hundred rupees]; and (b) in the case of an election from an Assembly or Council constituency, [a sum of ten thousand rupees or where the candidate is a member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, a sum of five thousand rupees]:
Source: The Representation Of The People (Amendment) Act, 1996 Act 21 of 1996: https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1385811/
Verified: 2024/06/25
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
PC008

Independent candidates
Question:Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s): e. In both presidential and legislative elections
Comments:
Source: The Representation of the People Act, 1951, Section 33: http://legislative.gov.in/sites/default/files/04_representation%20of%20the%20people%20act%2C%201951.pdf Handbook for Candidates, Chapter III Section 9(b): https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/HandbookforCandidates/812155#6
Verified: 2024/06/25
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
PC012

Public funding of parties
Question:Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s): c. Indirect
Comments: No funds in form of money are given to any party from the state. Free time on state-owned radio and TV is given by a special formula devised by the Election Commission of India.
Source: Compendium of Instruction on Media Related Matters (January 2017): https://eci.gov.in/files/file/6922-compendium-of-instructions-on-media-related-matters/
Verified: 2019/04/11
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
PC015


Question:What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s): e. Other
Comments: Special formula devised by the Election Commission of India. The formula is very elaborate. It is for providing free time on state owned media, i.e. telecasts and broadcasts. Only the nationally and state recognized parties are given such free time. Total time, varying from 10 hours on nationwide media and 30 hours on statewide media is reserved and allotted to recognized parties.
Source: Compendium of Instruction on Media Related Matters (January 2017): https://eci.gov.in/files/file/6922-compendium-of-instructions-on-media-related-matters/
Verified: 2019/04/11
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
PC017


Question:Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer: a. Yes
Comments: Electoral bonds are monetary instruments that citizens or corporate groups can buy from the State Bank of India and give to a political party, which is then free to redeem them for money.
Source: The Representation of the People Act 1951, indirectly Section 77: http://legislative.gov.in/sites/default/files/04_representation%20of%20the%20people%20act%2C%201951.pdf Finance Bill, 2017: https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/budget2017-2018/ub2017-18/memo/memo.pdf
Verified: 2024/06/25
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
The data on this page is continuously updated. Additional, but potentially outdated material is available here.