Consider the following statements:
- In India, there is no law restricting the candidates from contesting in one Lok Sabha election from three constituencies.
- In 1991, Lok Sabha Election, Shri Devi Lal contested from three Lok Sabha constituencies
- As per the existing rules, if a candidate contests in one Lok Sabha election from many constituencies, his/her party should bear the cost of bye-elections to the constituencies vacated by him/her in the event of him/her winning in all the constituencies.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 2 Only
This question tests knowledge about the rules governing the number of constituencies from which a candidate can contest in Lok Sabha elections. The correct answer is Statement 2 only, as Shri Devi Lal did contest from three constituencies in 1991, which was permissible before the 1996 amendment that restricted candidates to a maximum of two constituencies.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Section 33(7) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, was amended in 1996 to restrict candidates from contesting from more than two constituencies (not three) in a single general election or bye-elections held simultaneously.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: In the 1991 Lok Sabha elections, Shri Devi Lal contested from three constituencies: Rohtak (Haryana), Sikar (Rajasthan), and Ferozepur (Punjab). This was permissible at that time as the two-constituency limit was only introduced in 1996.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: There is no provision in the Representation of the People Act or election rules requiring a candidate or their party to bear the cost of bye-elections. The expenditure for conducting bye-elections is borne by the respective State Governments and the Central Government through the Election Commission.
📝 Short Notes: Contesting from Multiple Constituencies
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Legal Provision | Section 33(7) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 |
| Before 1996 | No limit on the number of constituencies a candidate could contest from |
| After 1996 Amendment | A candidate can contest from a maximum of two constituencies only |
| Cost of Bye-elections | Borne by State/Central Government through Election Commission, not by the candidate or party |
| Historical Example | Shri Devi Lal contested from three constituencies in 1991 (Rohtak, Sikar, Ferozepur) |
| Rationale for Restriction | To reduce the financial burden of bye-elections and prevent misuse of the electoral system |
Question 1 of 2 Representation of the People Act
Practice PYQ questions from this topic across all years
First question in this topic
Right to vote and to be elected in India is a: