Integrity Score 270
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Prologue continues...
The integration of the Indian nation was a formidable task, without
which India would not have remained one nation. At the time of
Independence, there were as many as 600 native states ‘ruled’ by petty
kings in India. Left to themselves, many of them would have preferred to
become independent ‘countries’. It was the firmness and sagacity of Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel that made these reluctant princes merge with the Indian
Union. Patel dealt with them with an ‘iron’ hand. They were, of course,
given some blandishments in the form of privy purses, etc., but were firmly asked to join the Indian Union. They were made aware of the consequences
of contrary action on their part. Sardar Patel is rightly called the ‘iron man
of India’.
Democracy is sustained through periodic elections. India embarked on a massive exercise of election to elect the new representatives of the people for the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies. Parliament enacted landmark legislations governing every aspect of election, namely Representation of the People Act, 1950, and Representation of the People Act, 1951, which constituted a complete code in itself.
The Constitution of India provided for an independent authority to conduct the elections and to deal with all aspects thereof, and clothed it with all administrative and quasi-judicial powers necessary to ensure free and fair elections and perform the constitutional functions. To introduce universal adult franchise in a country with frightening disparities and a rural sector that was feudal was indeed an adventurous step. But the elections held in India since 1952 proved beyond doubt that this experiment was a success. The elections have proved the maturity of Indian voters, the majority of whom were illiterates when the first election was held.
To be continued....