Bypolls in India

• 12 May 2023

Why in News?

Recently, Bypolls were conducted for one Lok Sabha constituency in Punjab and four Assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Odisha.

What are Bypolls?

• About:
  • Bypolls, also known as bye-elections or special elections, refer to elections held to fill vacant seats in the legislative bodies of India.
  • It serves as a vital component within the broader electoral cycle and complements regular elections by addressing unforeseen vacancies.
• Purpose:
  • The primary objective of bypolls is to ensure the timely filing of vacant seats, enabling the representation of the affected constituency or district in the legislative body.
• Occurrence:
  • Bypolls are conducted when a seat in the legislature becomes vacant due to reasons such as the death, resignation, disqualification, or expulsion of a sitting member.
• Timeframe:

  • Section 151A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 mandates the Election Commission to fill the casual vacancies in the Houses of Parliament and State Legislatures through bye elections within six months from the date of occurrence of the vacancy, provided that the remainder of the term of a member in relation to a vacancy is one year or more.

    • Hence, there is no need to hold bye elections if the remaining term of the Lok Sabha is less than one year from the date of occurrence of vacancies.

• Impact:
  • Impact on Political Landscape: Bye-elections often serve as a litmus test for political parties and their popularity.
    • They provide an opportunity for parties to gauge public sentiment and assess their support base.
  • Impact on Government Majority: Bye-election outcomes can affect the majority of the ruling government.
    • If the ruling party loses a significant number of by-poll seats, it may lead to a loss of majority in the legislative body, which can impact the government's stability and decision-making.
  • Testing the Electoral Strategies: Bye-elections provide an avenue for political parties to test their electoral strategies and fine-tune their campaign approaches.
    • Parties may experiment with candidate selection, campaign themes, and messaging during by-polls, which can influence their strategies in subsequent elections.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question:

Q. Consider the following statements: (2017)

1. The Election Commission of India is a five-member body.
2. Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides the election schedule for the conduct of both general elections and bye-elections.
3. The Election Commission resolves the disputes relating to splits/mergers of recognised political parties.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only 
(c) 2 and 3 only 
(d) 3 only

Ans: (d)

Source: TH