Why do you think nationalist movement supported the idea that all adults have a right to vote?
The nationalist movement became successful because people from various beckgrounds joined it and they were inspired by the ideas of freedom, equality and participation in decision making. The freedom movement had changed the situation. The nationalists began to openly criticise the British government and make demands.
With the coming of independence, everyone became the citizens of a free country. This did not mean that the government could do what it felt like, it meant that the government had to be sensitive to people’s needs and demands. The dreams and aspirations of the freedom struggle were made concrete in the Constitution of independent India that laid down the principle of universal adult franchise, i.e. that all adult citizens of the country have the right to vote.
You have read in Chapter 1 that the ‘Parliamentary form of government’ that exists in India has three tiers. This includes the Parliament (central government) and the various State Legislatures (state governments). Fill in the following table with information on the various representatives from your area:
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State Government |
Central Government |
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Which political party/parties is/are currently in power? |
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Who (name) is the current representative from your area? |
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Which political parties currently form the Opposition? |
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When were election last held? |
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When will the next elections be held? |
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How many women representatives are there (from your state)? |
In this 2004 map of Parliamentary constituencies alongside, roughly identify the constituencies in your State. What is name of the MP from your constituency? How many MPs does your state have? Why are certain constituencies coloured green while others are coloured blue? For map please see NCERT Textbook, page 41.
