 "In Graphics | How India’s elections got bigger and better over the years")
India’s elections, the biggest in the world, are colossal, colourful, and complex. In the elections starting from 19 April and culminating on 4 June, over 96.8 crore people will cast their ballot to elect 543 politicians to the Lok Sabha. There are more than 2,600 political parties registered today.
The electoral process has evolved since the country held its first elections in 1951. The Election Commission of India (ECI), then barely a year old, conducted this historic poll with 17.3 crore electors and 1,874 candidates.
Despite obstacles such as illiteracy and a lack of infrastructure, ECI successfully carried out what many dubbed as a great experiment in democracy. Many of the decisions made at that time have become integral to our entire electoral process, whether it be symbols or indelible ink. Since then, the elections have grown bigger and better.
We explain in graphics.
Also read: How India held its first Lok Sabha election in 68 phases
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