Consider the following statements in the respect of election to the president of India:
- The members nominated to either House of the Parliament or the Legislative Assemblies of States are also eligible to be included in the Electoral College.
- Higher the number of elective Assembly seats, higher is the value of vote of each MLA of that state.
- The value of vote of each MLA of Madhya Pradesh is greater than that of Kerala.
- The value of vote of each MLA of Puducherry is higher than that of Arunachal Pradesh because the ratio of total population to total number of elective seats in Puducherry is greater as compared to Arunachal Pradesh
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Answer: (a) Only one
Explanation:
Article 54 of the Indian Constitution deals with Election of the President. The Article states that the President shall be elected by an Electoral college consisting of
- Elected members of both the Houses of the Parliament
- Elected members of Legislative Assemblies of States.( Elected members from Assemblies of National Capital Territory of Delhi and Union Territories of Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir would also participate).
Nominated members(from both houses of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies) were not included in the Electoral college for electing the President. Hence statement 1 is incorrect
Value of vote of MLA is based on the ratio of Total population of the state to Total number of elected members in State Legislative assembly(not just the number of elective assembly seats).
Hence statement 2 is incorrect.
Based on the concept proportional representation discussed above, Value of vote of each MLA of Madhya Pradesh(131) is not greater than that of Kerala(152). Hence statement 3 is incorrect.
Value of vote of each MLA of Puducherry(16) is higher than that of Arunachal Pradesh(8).
Hence statement 4 is correct.
Additional Information
- The total value of votes will be 1086431(543200 for MPs or 700 votes each and 543231 for MLA based on 1971 census population figures and 84th Constitutional Amendment Act.
- Candidate requires 50men of Electoral College to propose their name and another 50 members to second it.
- Polling would carried out in the Parliament House for Members of Parliament and at the respective State Assemblies for MLAs
- Returning officer would be Rajya Sabha Secretary General