Question

Which among the following statement(s) is/are correct?

1. The Bharatiya Janata Party was founded by Syama Prasad Mukherjee.

2. The Election Commission appoints the District Election Officer to supervise election work in a district.

3. The first Asian country to implement NOTA was Bangladesh.

4. The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners are appointed by the Prime Minister.

• A. Only (1)
• B. Only (1 and 3)
• C. Only (1, 2, and 3)
• D. All of the above (1, 2, 3, and 4)

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Only (1 and 3)

Founding of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

• The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was officially founded on April 6, 1980.
• It emerged from the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, which was founded by Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee in 1951.
• The Jana Sangh was a political party that advocated for Hindu nationalism.
• The BJP adopted a more moderate stance than its predecessor, but its core ideology remained rooted in cultural nationalism.

Role of Election Commission and District Election Officers

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) is a constitutional body responsible for conducting elections in India.
• Article 324 of the Constitution of India establishes the ECI.
• The ECI appoints District Election Officers (DEOs) to oversee and manage election-related activities within their respective districts.
• DEOs play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth conduct of elections, including voter registration, polling station management, and counting of votes.

Introduction of NOTA (None of the Above)

• The 'None of the Above' (NOTA) option allows voters to reject all candidates in an election.
• India introduced the NOTA option in its electronic voting machines (EVMs) in 2013, following a Supreme Court directive.
• The purpose of NOTA is to give voters a way to express their dissatisfaction with the available candidates without abstaining from voting.
• Bangladesh was the first Asian country to implement the NOTA option in its elections.

Appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners

• The President of India appoints the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other Election Commissioners (ECs).
• This appointment process is governed by Article 324 of the Constitution.
• The CEC and ECs hold office for a term of six years or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
• Their appointments are made by the President on the advice of the government, but the process has been subject to debate and calls for reform to ensure greater independence.