Elections in Andhra Pradesh
Encyclopedia
Elections in Andhra Pradesh
state, India
are conducted in accordance with the Constitution of India
. The Assembly of Andhra Pradesh creates laws regarding the conduct of local body elections unilaterally while any changes by the state legislature to the conduct of state level elections need to be approved by the Parliament of India
. In addition, the state legislature may be dismissed by the Parliament according to Article 356 of the Indian Constitution and President's rule
may be imposed.
. In the Indian general election, 2009
, the Indian National Congress
won a majority of 33 seats with the Telugu Desam Party
taking 6 seats and TRS
and the AIMIM taking 2 and 1 seats respectively.
.
formed the state government
having secured a simple majority of 156 seats.
has lesser powers than the Assembly and several of its members are nominated by the Assembly. Others are elected from various sections of the society like Graduates and Teachers. Currently the Legislative Council consists of 90 members.
In 2009, the Andhra Pradesh State Legislative Assembly has 294 seats representing 23 districts.
From 1956 to 1958 the Andhra Pradesh Legislature was Unicameral and from 1958 when the Council was formed, it became bicameral and continued till 1 June 1985 when the Legislative Council was abolished and the Andhra Pradesh Legislature once again Unicameral until March 2007 when it was reestablished and elections were held for its seats as per THE ANDHRA PRADESH LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BILL, 2004.
(INC) won a majority of seats at the state level continuously from the formation of the state until 1983 when the Telugu Desam Party
(TDP) formed by Great Actor N.T.Rama Rao,the first non-Congress government in the state. From 1984-2004, the politics of the state essentially was a two party system. The INC regained the state from 1989-1994. The TDP formed the state government from 1995-2004. In 2004, the present INC government was first formed. This government is now in its second term having won the Assembly elections in 2009.The TDP forms the principal opposition party in the state assembly. The state has an ongoing sub-regionalist Telangana movement with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi
(TRS) being formed in 2001 on this platform. The Praja Rajyam Party
(PRP) was formed in 2008 by Telugu Film Actor Chiranjeevi
that won the third largest number of seats in the 2009 state assembly elections.
whose state level head is the Chief Election Commissioner of Andhra Pradesh, the authority created under the Constitution
. It is a well established convention that once the election process commences, no courts intervene until the results are declared by the election commission. During the elections, vast powers are assigned to the election commission to the extent that it can function as a civil court, if needed.
The party or coalition that has won the most seats is invited by the Governor to form the new government. The coalition or party must prove its majority in the floor of the house (Legislative Assembly) in a vote of confidence by obtaining a simple majority (minimum 50%) of the votes in the House.
The Representation of the People (Amendment) 2006 Bill was introduced in the Parliament by Shri Hanraj Bharadwaj, Minister of Law and Justice during February 2006 with an objective to amend Section 20 of the RPA-1950 to enable NRIs to vote. Despite the report submitted by the Parliamentary Standing Committee two years ago, the Government has so far failed to act on the recommendations. The Bill was reintroduced in the 2008 budget session of the Parliament to the Lok Sabha. But no action taken once again.
Several civic society organizations have urged the government to amend the RPA act to allow NRI's and people on the move to cast their vote through absentee ballot system.
http://eci.gov.in/PROPOSED_ELECTORAL_REFORMS.pdf
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
state, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
are conducted in accordance with the Constitution of India
Constitution of India
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. It lays down the framework defining fundamental political principles, establishes the structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens...
. The Assembly of Andhra Pradesh creates laws regarding the conduct of local body elections unilaterally while any changes by the state legislature to the conduct of state level elections need to be approved by the Parliament of India
Parliament of India
The Parliament of India is the supreme legislative body in India. Founded in 1919, the Parliament alone possesses legislative supremacy and thereby ultimate power over all political bodies in India. The Parliament of India comprises the President and the two Houses, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha...
. In addition, the state legislature may be dismissed by the Parliament according to Article 356 of the Indian Constitution and President's rule
President's rule
President's rule is the term used in India when a state legislature is dissolved or suspended and the state is placed under direct federal rule...
may be imposed.
Lok Sabha Delegation
Andhra Pradesh sends 42 Members of Parliament to the Lok SabhaLok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
. In the Indian general election, 2009
Indian general election, 2009
India held general elections to the 15th Lok Sabha in five phases between 16 April 2009 and 13 May 2009. With an electorate of 714 million , it was the largest democratic election in the world to date.By constitutional requirement, elections to the Lok Sabha must be...
, the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
won a majority of 33 seats with the Telugu Desam Party
Telugu Desam Party
Telugu Desam Party or TDP is a regional political party in India's Andhra Pradesh state. It was founded by former Telugu film star N. T...
taking 6 seats and TRS
Telangana Rashtra Samithi
Telangana Rashtra Samithi is a regional separatist political party in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.-Ideology:Telangana Rashtra Samithi's main aim is to separate Telangana region from Andhra Pradesh and to regain regional autonomy as it existed before the formation of Andhra Pradesh...
and the AIMIM taking 2 and 1 seats respectively.
Rajya Sabha Delegation
Both the houses of the state legislature jointly nominate Members of Parliament to the Rajya SabhaRajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
.
Legislative Assembly
Andhra Pradesh legislature assembly has 294 seats. For the election of its members, the state is divided into 294 Assembly Constituencies in which the candidate securing the largest number of votes is declared elected. In the Andhra Pradesh Assembly Elections 2009, the Indian National CongressIndian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
formed the state government
Government of Andhra Pradesh
Government of Andhra Pradesh is the government for the state of Andhra Pradesh in South India.It is an elected government with 294 MLAs elected to the legislative assembly for a 5 year term.-Executive:...
having secured a simple majority of 156 seats.
Legislative Council
The Upper House known as the Legislative CouncilVidhan Parishad
The Vidhan Parishad is the upper house in those states of India that have a bicameral legislature. , six states have a Legislative Council: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh...
has lesser powers than the Assembly and several of its members are nominated by the Assembly. Others are elected from various sections of the society like Graduates and Teachers. Currently the Legislative Council consists of 90 members.
History of elections in Andhra Pradesh
The first general elections were conducted in India in 1956, for 249 constituencies representing 26 Districts.In 2009, the Andhra Pradesh State Legislative Assembly has 294 seats representing 23 districts.
From 1956 to 1958 the Andhra Pradesh Legislature was Unicameral and from 1958 when the Council was formed, it became bicameral and continued till 1 June 1985 when the Legislative Council was abolished and the Andhra Pradesh Legislature once again Unicameral until March 2007 when it was reestablished and elections were held for its seats as per THE ANDHRA PRADESH LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BILL, 2004.
Assembly election
| Year | Election | Winning Party/Coalition | Chief Minister |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | First Assembly | Indian National Congress | N.S. Reddy Neelam Sanjiva Reddy Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was the sixth President of India, serving from 1977 to 1982 and was the only person to be elected President of India unopposed.... |
| 1957 | Second Assembly | Indian National Congress | N.S. Reddy (2) |
| 1962 | Third Assembly | Indian National Congress | N.S. Reddy (3) |
| 1967 | Fourth Assembly | Indian National Congress | K.B. Reddy Kasu Brahmananda Reddy Kasu Brahmananda Reddy at Hyderabad, was the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, India from 29 February 1964 to 30 September 1971. On 3 June 1977 he was elected president of the Indian National Congress.-Early life:... |
| 1972 | Fifth Assembly | Indian National Congress | P.V. Narasimha Rao |
| 1978 | Sixth Assembly | Indian National Congress | M.C. Reddy Marri Chenna Reddy Marri Channa Reddy was an Indian politician active in several states. He was the governor of Uttar Pradesh , governor of Punjab , governor of Rajasthan from February 1992 to May 1993, and governor of Tamil Nadu from 1993 until his death. He was a leader of Indian National Congress Party... T. Anjaiah Tanguturi Anjaiah Tanguturi Anjaiah or Ramakrishna Reddi Talla was the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, India from October 1980 to February 1982.-Career:T... B.V. ReddyK.V.B. Reddy |
| 1983 | Seventh Assembly | Telugu Desam Party Telugu Desam Party Telugu Desam Party or TDP is a regional political party in India's Andhra Pradesh state. It was founded by former Telugu film star N. T... |
N.T. Rama RaoN.B. Rao Nadendla Bhaskara Rao Nadendla Bhaskara Rao was the chief minister of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh for a brief period in 1983. He holds the dubious distinction of serving the shortest term as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh – 31 days... |
| 1985 | Eighth Assembly | Telugu Desam Party | N.T. Rama Rao (2) |
| 1989 | Ninth Assembly | Indian National Congress | M.C. Reddy (2)N.J. Reddy Nedurumalli Janardhana Reddy Nedurumalli Janardhana Reddy is a member of the 12th, 13th and 14th Lok Sabha of India. He represents the Visakhapatnam constituency of Andhra Pradesh and is a member of the Indian National Congress. He was also a Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh from 1990 to 1992... K.V.B. Reddy (2) |
| 1994 | Tenth Assembly | Telugu Desam Party | N.T. Rama Rao (3)Chandrababu Naidu |
| 1999 | Eleventh Assembly | Telugu Desam Party | Chandrababu Naidu (2) |
| 2004 | Twelfth Assembly | Indian National Congress (UPA United Progressive Alliance The United Progressive Alliance is a ruling coalition of center-left political parties heading the government of India. The coalition is led by the Indian National Congress , which is currently the single largest political party in the Lok Sabha... ) |
Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy , popularly known as YSR, was a two-time Chief Minister of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. He is seen as the most popular chief minister of Andhra pradesh. His popularity is often attributed to various welfare schemes and development programs he championed for the... |
| 2009 | Thirteenth Assembly | Indian National Congress (UPA United Progressive Alliance The United Progressive Alliance is a ruling coalition of center-left political parties heading the government of India. The coalition is led by the Indian National Congress , which is currently the single largest political party in the Lok Sabha... ) |
Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy (2)K. Rosaiah Konijeti Rosaiah Konijeti Rosaiah is the current Governor of Tamil Nadu and a former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. He was previously an MLC, MLA & MP of the Indian National Congress numerous times and has handled many ministerial posts over his long political career spanning over half a century... Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy is an Indian politician who has been the 16th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh since 2010. A four-time MLA in Andhra Pradesh, he belongs to the Indian National Congress... |
Lok Sabha elections
15 Lok Sabha elections have been contested in India since independence starting 1951. The elections held in Andhra Pradesh are listed below. It is worth noting that the 1951 election are results from Hyderabad state, since Andhra Pradesh gained statehood, after merging with telugu speaking Madras, after that election.| Year | Lok Sabha Election | Winning Party/Coalition | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | First Lok Sabha | Indian National Congress Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian... |
|
| 1957 | Second Lok Sabha | Indian National Congress | |
| 1962 | Third Lok Sabha Indian general election in Andhra Pradesh, 1962 The Indian general election, 1962 polls in Andhra Pradesh were held for 43 seats in the state. The result was a victory for the Indian National Congress which won 34 out of 43 seats.-Results by Alliance:-External links:* *... |
Indian National Congress | |
| 1967 | Fourth Lok Sabha Indian general election in Andhra Pradesh, 1967 The Indian general election, 1967 polls in Andhra Pradesh were held for 41 seats in the state. The result was a victory for the Indian National Congress which won 35 out of 41 seats.-Results by Alliance:-External links:* *... |
Indian National Congress | |
| 1971 | Fifth Lok Sabha Indian general election in Andhra Pradesh, 1971 The Indian general election, 1971 polls in Andhra Pradesh were held for 42 seats in the state. The result was a victory for the Indian National Congress which won 28 out of 42 seats. This election also saw introduction of Telangana Praja Samithi which bagged 10 out of the 14 seats it contested,... |
Indian National Congress | |
| 1977 | Sixth Lok Sabha Indian general election in Andhra Pradesh, 1977 The Indian general election, 1980 polls in Andhra Pradesh were held for 42 seats in the state. The result was a landslide victory for the Indian National Congress which won 41 out of 42 seats.-Results by Alliance:-External links:* *... |
Indian National Congress | |
| 1980 | Seventh Lok Sabha Indian general election in Andhra Pradesh, 1980 The Indian general election, 1980 polls in Andhra Pradesh were held for 42 seats in the state. The result was a landslide victory for the Indian National Congress which won 41 out of 42 seats.-Results by Alliance:-External links:* *... |
Indian National Congress (Indira) | |
| 1984 | Eighth Lok Sabha Indian general election in Andhra Pradesh, 1984 The Indian general election, 1984 polls in Andhra Pradesh were held for 42 seats in the state. The result was a big victory for the Telugu Desam Party which won 30 out of 42 seats.-Results by Alliance:-External links:* *... |
Indian National Congress | |
| 1989 | Ninth Lok Sabha Indian general election in Andhra Pradesh, 1989 The Indian general election, 1989 polls in Andhra Pradesh were held for 42 seats in the state. The result was a landslide victory for the Indian National Congress which won 39 out of 42 seats-Results by Alliance:-External links:* *... |
Indian National Congress | |
| 1991 | Tenth Lok Sabha Indian general election in Andhra Pradesh, 1991 The Indian general election, 1991 polls in Andhra Pradesh were held for 42 seats in the state. The result was a victory for the Indian National Congress which won 25 out of 42 seats-Results by Alliance:-External links:* *... |
Indian National Congress | |
| 1996 | Eleventh Lok Sabha Indian general election in Andhra Pradesh, 1996 The Indian general election, 1996 polls in Andhra Pradesh were held for 42 seats in the state. The result was a victory for the Indian National Congress which won 22 out of 42 seats-Results by Alliance:-External links:* *... |
Indian National Congress | |
| 1998 | Twelfth Lok Sabha Indian general election in Andhra Pradesh, 1998 The Indian general election, 1998 polls in Andhra Pradesh were held for 42 seats in the state. The result was a victory for the Indian National Congress which won 22 out of 42 seats-Results by Alliance:-External links:* *... |
Indian National Congress | |
| 1999 | Thirteenth Lok Sabha Indian general election in Andhra Pradesh, 1999 The Indian general election, 1999 polls in Andhra Pradesh were held for 42 seats in the state. The result was a landslide victory for the National Democratic Alliance and its ally Telugu Desam Party which won 36 out of 42 seats. The popularity of Chandrababu Naidu and the unpopularity of Congress... |
National Democratic Alliance National Democratic Alliance (India) The National Democratic Alliance is a centre-right coalition of political parties in India. At the time of its formation in 1998, it was led by the Bharatiya Janata Party and had thirteen constituent parties. Its convenor is Sharad Yadav, and its honorary chairman is former prime minister Atal... (TDP/BJP) |
|
| 2004 | Fourteenth Lok Sabha | United Progressive Alliance United Progressive Alliance The United Progressive Alliance is a ruling coalition of center-left political parties heading the government of India. The coalition is led by the Indian National Congress , which is currently the single largest political party in the Lok Sabha... (INC/TRS) |
|
| 2009 | Fifteenth Lok Sabha Indian general election in Andhra Pradesh, 2009 The Indian general election, 2009 polls in Andhra Pradesh were held for 42 seats in the state. The major contenders in the polls were the Third Front, Indian National Congress and Praja Rajyam... |
United Progressive Alliance (INC/AIMIM) |
History of political parties
The Indian National CongressIndian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
(INC) won a majority of seats at the state level continuously from the formation of the state until 1983 when the Telugu Desam Party
Telugu Desam Party
Telugu Desam Party or TDP is a regional political party in India's Andhra Pradesh state. It was founded by former Telugu film star N. T...
(TDP) formed by Great Actor N.T.Rama Rao,the first non-Congress government in the state. From 1984-2004, the politics of the state essentially was a two party system. The INC regained the state from 1989-1994. The TDP formed the state government from 1995-2004. In 2004, the present INC government was first formed. This government is now in its second term having won the Assembly elections in 2009.The TDP forms the principal opposition party in the state assembly. The state has an ongoing sub-regionalist Telangana movement with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi
Telangana Rashtra Samithi
Telangana Rashtra Samithi is a regional separatist political party in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.-Ideology:Telangana Rashtra Samithi's main aim is to separate Telangana region from Andhra Pradesh and to regain regional autonomy as it existed before the formation of Andhra Pradesh...
(TRS) being formed in 2001 on this platform. The Praja Rajyam Party
Praja Rajyam Party
Praja Rajyam was a regional political party in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India, founded by Telugu cinema actor Chiranjeevi on August 26, 2008.On 2011, 6 February it was officially announced that the party would be merging into Indian National Congress...
(PRP) was formed in 2008 by Telugu Film Actor Chiranjeevi
Chiranjeevi
Chiranjeevi is a Telugu film actor and a politician. He has appeared primarily in Telugu Cinema along with a few Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films. He made his acting debut in Punadhirallu . However, Pranam Khareedu released at the box office earlier...
that won the third largest number of seats in the 2009 state assembly elections.
The Election Commission
Elections in Andhra Pradesh are conducted by the Election Commission of IndiaElection Commission of India
The Election Commission of India is an autonomous, quasi-judiciary constitutional body of India. Its mission is to conduct free and fair elections in India...
whose state level head is the Chief Election Commissioner of Andhra Pradesh, the authority created under the Constitution
Constitution of India
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. It lays down the framework defining fundamental political principles, establishes the structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens...
. It is a well established convention that once the election process commences, no courts intervene until the results are declared by the election commission. During the elections, vast powers are assigned to the election commission to the extent that it can function as a civil court, if needed.
Electoral process
The latest election in Andhra Pradesh were conducted in 2 phases. All citizens of India above 18 years of age are eligible to enroll as a voter in the electoral rolls. It is the responsibility of the eligible voters to enroll their names. Normally, voter registrations are allowed latest one week prior to the last date for nomination of candidates.Pre elections
The Election Commission's Model Code of Conduct enters into force as soon as the notification for polls is issued. This places restrictions on the campaigning by political parties as well as prohibits certain government actions that would unduly influence the election.Voting Day
The electoral process is the same as in the rest of India with Electronic Voting Machines being used for all Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections.Post elections
After the election day, the EVMs are stood stored in a strong room under heavy security. After the different phases of the elections are complete, a day is set to count the votes. The votes are tallied and typically, the verdict is known within hours. The candidate who has mustered the most votes is declared the winner of the constituency.The party or coalition that has won the most seats is invited by the Governor to form the new government. The coalition or party must prove its majority in the floor of the house (Legislative Assembly) in a vote of confidence by obtaining a simple majority (minimum 50%) of the votes in the House.
Voter registration
For few cities in Andhra Pradesh, the voter registration forms can be generated online and submitted to the nearest electoral office.Absentee voting
As of now, India does not have an absentee ballot system. Section 19 of The Representation of the People Act (RPA)-1950 allows a person to register to vote if he or she is above 18 years of age and is an ‘ordinary resident’ of the residing constituency i.e. living at the current address for 6 months or longer. Section 20 of the above Act disqualifies a non-resident Indian (NRI) from getting his/her name registered in the electoral rolls. Consequently, it also prevents an NRI from casting his/her vote in elections to the Parliament and to the State Legislatures.The Representation of the People (Amendment) 2006 Bill was introduced in the Parliament by Shri Hanraj Bharadwaj, Minister of Law and Justice during February 2006 with an objective to amend Section 20 of the RPA-1950 to enable NRIs to vote. Despite the report submitted by the Parliamentary Standing Committee two years ago, the Government has so far failed to act on the recommendations. The Bill was reintroduced in the 2008 budget session of the Parliament to the Lok Sabha. But no action taken once again.
Several civic society organizations have urged the government to amend the RPA act to allow NRI's and people on the move to cast their vote through absentee ballot system.
Electoral reforms
Proposed Electoral Reforms by Election Commission of Indiahttp://eci.gov.in/PROPOSED_ELECTORAL_REFORMS.pdf
Further reading
- Subrata K. Mitra and V.B. Singh. 1999. Democracy and Social Change in India: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the National Electorate. New Delhi: Sage Publications. ISBN 81-7036-809-X (India HB) ISBN 0-7619-9344-4 (U.S. HB).
- Subrata K. Mitra, Mike Enskat, Clemens Spiess (eds.). 2004. Political Parties in South Asia. Greenwood: Praeger.
- Subrata K. Mitra/Mike Enskat/V.B. Singh. 2001. India, in: Nohlen, Dieter (Ed.). Elections in Asia and the Pacific: A Data Handbook. Vol. I. Oxford: Oxford University Press
See also
- List of Assembly constituencies of Andhra Pradesh
- List of Lok Sabha Constituencies
- Elections in IndiaElections in IndiaIndia has a quasi federal government, with elected officials at the federal , state and local levels. On a national level, the head of government, the Prime Minister, is elected directly by the people, through a general election. All members of the federal legislature, the Parliament, are directly...
- 49-O49-ORule 49-O is a rule in The Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 of India, which governs elections in the country. It describes the procedure to be followed when a valid voter decides not to cast his vote, and decides to record this fact. The apparent purpose of this section is to prevent the election...
Popularly known as 'No Vote'