Why Elections Class 9 – Concept & Notes PDF for Free

Topic covered: Why Elections class 9 notes and MCQs Questions: Electoral Politics (All single detail notes are exam-oriented).

We have discussed in-depth and exam-oriented pointers that can be asked in the board exam of class 9th about the “Why Elections?“ from the NCERT Political Science (Civics) notes for class 9th chapter 3 Electoral Politics.

Download the NCERT Political Science (Civics) for Class 9th Chapter 3 Electoral Politics Notes PDF

Download the NCERT Political Science (Civics) for Class 9th Chapter 3 Electoral Politics Notes PDF to get clear and reliable study material for your exams. These notes explain the concept of elections, their role in democracy, and how representatives are chosen in a simple and organized manner. Designed for Class 9 students, the notes cover all important topics and definitions from the chapter, making revision easier and faster. With this PDF, you can prepare step by step, understand key terms, and practice for your board exams with confidence. It’s a handy resource for quick learning and effective preparation.

Overview of Electoral Politics

• In a democracy, direct governance by all people is neither possible nor necessary.
• Most democracies function through representative democracy, where people govern via elected representatives.

1. Focus of the Chapter:

• Understanding why elections are necessary and useful in a democracy.
• Examining how electoral competition among parties serves the people.
• Identifying what makes an election democratic, to distinguish democratic from non-democratic elections.

2. Assessment of Elections in India:

• Analyzing each stage of elections:
  • Drawing constituency boundaries
  • Election process
  • Declaration of results
• Evaluating what should happen vs. what actually happens at each stage.

3. Ensuring Free and Fair Elections:

• Assessing whether elections in India are free and fair.
• Understanding the role of the Election Commission in maintaining election fairness.

Why Elections?

Assembly Election in Haryana

1. Background:

• Haryana was ruled by the Congress party since 1982.
• Public dissatisfaction with the existing government was increasing.

2. Emergence of Devi Lal and Lok Dal:

• Chaudhary Devi Lal, opposition leader, led the Nyaya Yudh (Struggle for Justice) movement.
• Formed a new party called Lok Dal.
• Lok Dal allied with other opposition parties to form a front against Congress.

3. Election Campaign:

• Devi Lal promised that if elected, his government would waive loans of farmers and small businessmen.
• Campaign focused on justice and relief for common people.

4. Election Results (1987):

• Lok Dal and allies won 76 out of 90 seats in the Haryana Assembly.
• Lok Dal alone won 60 seats, gaining a clear majority.
• Congress could win only 5 seats.

5. Formation of Government:

• Sitting Chief Minister resigned after results.
• Newly elected MLAs of Lok Dal chose Devi Lal as their leader.
• Governor invited Devi Lal to become Chief Minister.
• Government Order issued immediately to waive loans for farmers, agricultural laborers, and small businessmen.

6. Subsequent Elections:

• Lok Dal ruled Haryana for four years.
• In 1991 elections, Congress won and formed the government.

7. Leadership and Campaign Efforts:

• Devi Lal, 76 years old, worked long hours during the election campaign.
• Addressed nine public meetings in a single day and had been campaigning continuously for 23 months.
• Known for his dedication and popularity among people.

Why do We Need Elections?

1. Why Elections Are Needed in a Democracy:

• Elections take place regularly in democracies to choose people’s representatives.
• Over 100 countries hold elections to select their representatives.
• Elections also occur in some countries that are not democratic, but their purpose differs.

2. Democracy Without Elections:

• Direct rule by all people is impractical in large communities.
• Citizens cannot have the time or knowledge to make decisions on all matters.
• Therefore, in most democracies, people rule through elected representatives.

3. Alternatives to Elections:

• Representatives could theoretically be selected based on age, experience, education, or knowledge.
• Even if these methods worked, there would be no mechanism to gauge people’s satisfaction with their representatives.
• Without elections, citizens cannot remove representatives they dislike.

4. Importance of Elections:

• Elections provide a mechanism to choose and change representatives at regular intervals.
• They are essential for representative democracy in modern times.

5. Choices Made by Voters:

• Citizens can choose who makes laws for them.
• Citizens can choose who will form the government and make major decisions.
• Citizens can choose the political party whose policies will guide governance and lawmaking.

What Makes an Election Democratic?

1. Distinguishing Democratic Elections:

• Elections are held in all democratic countries, but many non-democratic countries also hold elections.
• Not all elections are democratic; there are minimum conditions that make an election truly democratic.

2. Minimum Conditions for a Democratic Election:

• Universal Voting Right – Everyone should be able to vote, and every vote should have equal value.
• Real Choice – Parties and candidates must be free to contest elections, giving voters a genuine choice.
• Regular Intervals – Elections should be held periodically, after a fixed number of years.
• People’s Preference – The candidate preferred by the majority of voters should be elected.
• Free and Fair Process – Elections must be conducted in a way that allows voters to choose freely and without coercion.

3. Practical Application:

• Many countries fail to meet one or more of these conditions, so not all elections are democratic.
• These conditions can be used to evaluate the democratic nature of elections in any country, including India.

Is it Good to have Political Competition?

1. Political Competition in Elections:

• Elections are essentially about political competition among parties and candidates.
• At the constituency level, competition occurs between individual candidates.
• Without competition, elections become pointless.

2. Demerits of Political Competition:

• Creates disunity and factionalism at local levels.
• Leads to ‘party-politics’, allegations, and use of dirty tricks by parties/candidates.
• Pressure to win may hinder long-term policy-making.
• Some good citizens avoid entering politics due to unhealthy competition.

3. Why Competition is Necessary:

• Constitution makers chose free competition as the method to select leaders.
• Ideal world assumption: all leaders know what’s best and are motivated purely by public service.
• Reality: leaders also seek power, positions, and career advancement.
• Leaders may lack knowledge or understanding of people’s needs.

4. Role of Electoral Competition:

• Electoral competition sets up a system of rewards and punishments for leaders.
• People act as deciders of rewards or punishments through elections.
• Leaders gain popularity by raising issues important to voters.
• Leaders lose power if they fail to satisfy voters.

5. Analogy with Market Mechanism:

• Even if parties seek power only for themselves, competition forces them to serve people, similar to a shopkeeper serving customers to retain business.
• Despite causing some divisions or ugliness, political competition ensures that leaders remain accountable to the people.

Next & Previous Topics of NCERT/CBSE Political Science (Civics) Class 9 Chapter 3: Electoral Politics

MCQs on NCERT Political Science (Civics) Class 9 Chapter 3 Topic – Why Elections Class 9 Notes

Here are the top exam-oriented MCQ-type questions on “Why Elections Class 9 Notes” that you should prepare for your CBSE or state board exams:

Question 1. In a democracy, the most common form of governance is:

a) Direct rule by people
b) Rule through elected representatives
c) Monarchy
d) Military rule

Answer: b) Rule through elected representatives

Question 2. Who led the ‘Nyaya Yudh’ movement in Haryana in 1987?

a) Chaudhary Devi Lal
b) Bhupinder Singh Hooda
c) Indira Gandhi
d) Rajiv Gandhi

Answer: a) Chaudhary Devi Lal

Question 3. What was the main promise of Devi Lal during the Haryana elections?

a) To build new schools
b) To waive loans of farmers and small businessmen
c) To reduce taxes on large industries
d) To merge Haryana with Punjab

Answer: b) To waive loans of farmers and small businessmen

Question 4. Elections are essential in a representative democracy because:

a) They allow rulers to remain in power indefinitely
b) People cannot directly govern due to large populations
c) People do not need to choose their representatives
d) They eliminate political competition

Answer: b) People cannot directly govern due to large populations

Question 5. Which of the following is not a function of elections?

a) Choosing who will make laws
b) Choosing who will form the government
c) Choosing policies for the government
d) Eliminating the constitution

Answer: d) Eliminating the constitution

Question 6. Which of the following is a minimum condition of a democratic election?

a) Everyone should have one vote of equal value
b) Only educated people can vote
c) Only one candidate should contest
d) Elections held once in a decade

Answer: a) Everyone should have one vote of equal value

Question 7. Regular elections ensure that:

a) Representatives can rule indefinitely
b) Citizens can change their representatives if dissatisfied
c) Political parties remain unaccountable
d) Only one party can contest elections

Answer: b) Citizens can change their representatives if dissatisfied

Question 8. Free and fair elections mean:

a) Voters choose as they really wish
b) Only the ruling party controls voting
c) Candidates are appointed by the government
d) Elections are held secretly without public notice

Answer: a) Voters choose as they really wish

Question 9. Political competition in elections is necessary because:

a) It creates factionalism only
b) It forces leaders and parties to serve people to stay in power
c) It eliminates minority parties
d) It prevents elections from being held

Answer: b) It forces leaders and parties to serve people to stay in power

Question 10. What is the similarity between political competition and a market, according to the text?

a) Both operate without any rules
b) Competition ensures service—leaders/shops must satisfy people/customers
c) Both eliminate the weaker participants unfairly
d) Both are unnecessary in a democracy

Answer: b) Competition ensures service—leaders/shops must satisfy people/customers

Question 11. Can a place be called a democracy if representatives are chosen only on the basis of age, education, or experience?

a) Yes, because the most capable people are selected
b) No, because people cannot choose and hold them accountable regularly
c) Yes, if the leaders are honest
d) No, because democracy is about monarchy

Answer: b) No, because people cannot choose and hold them accountable regularly

Question 12. What was the main result of the 1987 Haryana Assembly elections?

a) Congress won a clear majority
b) Lok Dal and allies won 76 out of 90 seats
c) No party could form government
d) Elections were declared invalid

Answer: b) Lok Dal and allies won 76 out of 90 seats

Question 13. Which of the following best describes a democratic election?

a) Everyone has equal vote, free choice exists, elections held regularly, preferred candidate wins
b) Only selected groups can vote, elections are occasional
c) Candidates are appointed by rulers
d) Votes have unequal value

Answer: a) Everyone has equal vote, free choice exists, elections held regularly, preferred candidate wins

Question 14. One disadvantage of political competition mentioned in the text is:

a) It forces leaders to serve people
b) It creates factionalism and divisions in society
c) It rewards good governance
d) It promotes free choice

Answer: b) It creates factionalism and divisions in society

Question 15. Even if political leaders are motivated only by the desire for power, elections:

a) Have no effect on people
b) Force them to serve citizens to win again
c) Ensure the government rules indefinitely
d) Eliminate voter participation

Answer: b) Force them to serve citizens to win again

Question 16. How do elections help citizens in a democracy?

a) By allowing citizens to choose representatives, laws, and policies
b) By allowing rulers to remain in power without accountability
c) By eliminating political competition
d) By enforcing monarchy

Answer: a) By allowing citizens to choose representatives, laws, and policies

Question 17. Which of the following statements is true?

a) Only democratic countries hold elections
b) Only non-democratic countries hold elections
c) Both democratic and non-democratic countries hold elections
d) Elections are optional in democracies

Answer: c) Both democratic and non-democratic countries hold elections

Question 18. The 1987 Haryana elections illustrate that:

a) Electoral promises can influence voter choice
b) Voters ignore government performance
c) Only the ruling party always wins
d) Political competition is unnecessary

Answer: a) Electoral promises can influence voter choice

Question 19. Which stage is not part of the electoral process mentioned in the overview?

a) Drawing constituency boundaries
b) Declaration of results
c) Conducting elections at regular intervals
d) Granting hereditary titles to winners

Answer: d) Granting hereditary titles to winners

Question 20. The main purpose of elections in a democracy is:

a) To ensure citizens have regular control over who governs
b) To maintain absolute power for rulers
c) To avoid public participation
d) To select leaders by lottery

Answer: a) To ensure citizens have regular control over who governs