About Uncontested Elections

• The Election Commission of India, in its Handbook for Returning Officers, states that if there is only one contesting candidate in a constituency, that candidate should be declared duly elected immediately after the last hour for withdrawal of candidature. 
  • In such cases, a poll is not required.
• Instances Of Uncontested Election: The Election Commission had said there are only nine instances where elections were uncontested.
• Situation for Uncontested Elections: 
  • When all other candidates either voluntarily withdraw their nominations or 
  • The nominations of other candidates are rejected during the scrutiny process. 
    • As a result, only one candidate remains, and the election concludes without a vote.

Nomination Process For Contesting Elections

• Legal Basis for Nomination Requirements:
  • Section 33 of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951 outlines the requirements for filing valid nomination papers.
  • Section 36 of the same Act governs the scrutiny of nominations by the Returning Officer (RO).
• Eligibility to Contest Elections:
  • The candidate must be an elector and at least 25 years of age to contest Lok Sabha elections.
  • A candidate can contest from any constituency in India, subject to other conditions.
• Proposers for Nomination:
  • The proposer(s) must be registered electors in the constituency from which the candidate is contesting.
    For candidates from recognised political parties (national or state): Only one proposer is required.
  • For independent candidates and those from unrecognised parties: Ten proposers are required.
• Filing of Multiple Nominations
  • A candidate may file up to four nomination papers, each with different sets of proposers.
  • This provision allows flexibility i.e. if one set is invalid, another may still be accepted.
• Scrutiny of Nomination Papers
  • Under Section 36, the Returning Officer examines all nomination papers filed.
  • The RO shall not reject any nomination for a defect that is not substantial.
  • However, a nomination can be rejected if the candidate’s signature or proposer’s signature is found to be not genuine.