Elections in Tamil Nadu

Elections

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is responsible for monitoring and administering the elections for the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and Lok Sabha (House of the People) of the Parliament and the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. The ECI appoints the chief electoral officer of Tamil Nadu, an I.A.S. officer who oversees state-level election matters.

The Tamil Nadu Election Commission is the state body of Tamil Nadu that is enacted under the provisions of the constitution and is responsible for monitoring and administering the elections for local government in Tamil Nadu. This body is responsible for ensuring elections are free and fair, without any bias.

Elections ensure the conduct of members pre-elections, during elections, and post-elections is as per statutory legislation.

The election commission handles all election-related disputes. If the laws enacted to deal with the given situation in conducting elections are silent or do not make adequate provisions, the Madras High Court has ruled that the Election Commission has residual powers to act appropriately under the constitution.

Types of elections

Elections in Tamil Nadu include elections for:

• Members of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House)
• Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha (Lower House)
• Members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
• Members of local governance bodies (municipal bodies and panchayats)
• A bye-election is held when the elected member of a particular constituency dies, resigns, or is disqualified.

Rajya Sabha elections

Members of parliament in the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) from Tamil Nadu are not directly elected by being voted upon by all adult citizens of the state but by the members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. Candidates who win the Rajya Sabha elections are called "Members of Parliament" and hold their seats for six years. The house meets in the Rajya Sabha Chamber of the Sansad Bhavan in New Delhi on matters relating to the creation of new laws or removing or improving the existing laws that affect all citizens of India. Elections take place to elect 18 members from Tamil Nadu.

Lok Sabha elections

Members of parliament in the Lok Sabha (House of the People) from Tamil Nadu are directly elected by being voted upon by all adult citizens of the state from a set of candidates who stand in their respective constituencies. Every adult citizen of India can vote only in their constituency. Candidates who win the Lok Sabha elections are called "Members of Parliament" and hold their seats for five years or until the body is dissolved by the president of India on the advice of the council of ministers. The house meets in the Lok Sabha Chamber of the Sansad Bhavan in New Delhi on matters relating to the creation of new laws or removing or improving the existing laws that affect all citizens of India. Elections take place once every five years to elect 39 members from Tamil Nadu.

Legislative Assembly elections

Members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly are directly elected by being voted upon by all adult citizens of the state from a set of candidates who stand in their respective constituencies. Every adult citizen of India can vote only in their constituency. Candidates who win the legislative assembly elections are called "Members of the Legislative Assembly" and hold their seats for five years or until the body is dissolved by the governor of Tamil Nadu on the advice of the council of ministers. The house meets in the Assembly Chamber of the Chief Secretariat in Chennai on matters relating to the creation of new laws or removing or improving the existing laws that affect all citizens of Tamil Nadu. Elections take place once every five years to elect 234 members to the legislative assembly. The leader of the majority party or alliance takes oath as chief minister of Tamil Nadu.

Bye-election

When an elected member of the Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, or Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly left their office vacant before their term ended, a bye-election was conducted to find a suitable replacement to fill the vacant position.

Common reasons for bye-elections:

• Resignation of the sitting M.P. or an M.L.A.
• Death of the sitting M.P. or an M.L.A.

There are also other reasons that occur when the incumbent is disqualified for being ineligible to continue in office (criminal conviction, failure to maintain a minimum level of attendance in the office due to election irregularities found later, or when a candidate wins more than one seat and has to vacate one).

References

References

1. (7 August 2017). "Rajya Sabha Election 2017: Here Is How Members Are Elected To Upper House". [[The Hindu]].
2. "Terms of the Houses: Detail of Terms of the Union Parliament and the Legislative Assemblies". [[Election Commission of India]].
3. (1 September 2021). "Tamil Nadu - Election Commission of India". [[Election Commission of India]].
4. "BYE ELECTIONS: Bye-Elections (also known as bypolls) are used to fill elected offices that have become vacant between general elections". [[Election Commission of India]].