'Unopposed' Election Victories
'Unopposed' Election Victories: Recently, the Supreme Court suggested that a lone candidate in an election should be required to secure a minimum vote share to be declared elected, rather than winning without an election being held.
o The case, filed by the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, challenges Section 53(2) of The RPA, 1951, which mandates automatic election declarations when candidates equal the seats.
- Election Commission’s Response:
o ECI stated uncontested elections are rare, with only 9 out of 20 Lok Sabha elections (1951-2024) having such instances.
o ECI argued that None of the Above (NOTA) is not applicable in uncontested elections, as voters don't visit polling stations.
o ECI noted that changing this would require a legislative amendment to the RPA, 1951.
Detailed Solutions & Explanations
