5.3 Types of Elections
Not every elected post is filled in the same way. Sometimes the people vote directly for their representative; sometimes representatives are chosen by other elected officials. Understanding this difference, and how it applies to India’s two houses of Parliament, is the key to understanding the electoral system.
Direct and indirect elections
Two Ways to Elect
- In a direct election, the people themselves vote directly for their representatives. Example: you vote directly for your Lok Sabha member (MP) and for your state Vidhan Sabha member (MLA).
- In an indirect election, the people first elect some representatives, who then elect other officials on their behalf. Example: members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies, not directly by the public. The President of India is also elected indirectly.
The two houses of Parliament
India’s Parliament has two houses, and they are filled in different ways.
| Feature | Lok Sabha (House of the People) | Rajya Sabha (Council of States) |
|---|---|---|
| Also called | Lower House | Upper House |
| Elected by | Directly by the people | Indirectly, by elected members of state assemblies |
| Represents | The people / population | The states |
| Term | Up to 5 years (can be dissolved) | Permanent house, never fully dissolved |
| Members retire | All together at election | One-third retire every 2 years |
Why the Rajya Sabha Is “Permanent” The Rajya Sabha is called a permanent house because it is never dissolved all at once. Instead, one-third of its members retire every two years, and new members are elected to replace them. This means there is always an experienced, continuing body in Parliament, even when the Lok Sabha is dissolved for fresh elections. The Lok Sabha, by contrast, has a fixed term of up to five years and can be dissolved for a general election.
First Past the Post
For the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, India uses the First Past the Post (FPTP) system: in each constituency, the candidate with the most votes wins, even if that is not a majority of all votes cast. It is simple and produces a clear local winner for every area.
Think About It In a constituency, suppose Candidate A gets 35% of the votes, B gets 33%, and C gets 32%. Under First Past the Post, who wins, and how much of the vote did they not get? What is one strength and one weakness of choosing the winner this way?
A quick map of who elects whom
Direct vs Indirect at a Glance
- You (the people) directly elect → Lok Sabha MPs and State Assembly MLAs.
- Elected MLAs indirectly elect → Rajya Sabha members.
- An electoral college of elected representatives indirectly elects → the President of India.
Let’s Explore Draw a simple flow chart showing who elects whom: People → Lok Sabha / Assemblies; Assembly members → Rajya Sabha. Label each arrow “direct” or “indirect.” Keep it for your revision.
We have seen how, and by whom, representatives are chosen. But who organises and oversees these huge elections to keep them fair? That is the job of the Election Commission of India, our next topic.