Consider the following statements:

1. In the election for Lok Sabha or State Assembly, the winning candidate must get at least 50 percent of the votes polled, to be declared elected.
2. According to the provisions laid down in the Constitution of India, in Lok Sabha, the Speaker’s post goes to the majority party and the Deputy Speaker’s to the Opposition.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Though the Constitution has adopted the system of proportional representation in the case of the Rajya Sabha, it has not preferred the same system in the case of the Lok Sabha or the State assembly. Instead, it has adopted the system of territorial representation (First-past-the-post system) for the election of members. Under territorial representation, every member of the legislature represents a geographical area known as a constituency. From each constituency, only one representative is elected.
  • In this system, a candidate who secures the majority of votes (not 50% of votes polled) is declared elected.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The Constitution of India does not explicitly lay down a provision reserving the Speaker’s post for the majority party or the Deputy Speaker’s post for the opposition. While it is a convention that the Speaker generally belongs to the ruling party/coalition and the Deputy Speaker’s post has, at times, been offered to the opposition, this is based on parliamentary conventions and mutual understanding, not a constitutional mandate.

Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2; Difficulty Level: Easy