India Decides : Lok Sabha Elections--2009

Contents: Preface. 1. General Elections, 2009. 2. Various general elections. 3. National elections. 4. Electoral system. 5. Election Commission. 6. Political parties. 7. Coalition system. 8. United Progressive Alliance. 9. National Democratic Alliance. 10. United National Progressive Alliance. 11. Head of the Coalition (2009). 12. Ruling Congress Alliance. 13. Constitution of India. 14. Parliament in India. 15. Prime Minister. Bibliography. Index. 

"In a democratic system, an election is the most significant exercise. It is the basis for a popular government. An election is a decision-making process, by which people choose and individual to represent them in legislature. Further, this is the usual mechanism, by which modern representative democracy fills offices in various branches of the governing system, in the executive and legislature and for regional and local governments. In India, the election, since independence, have evolved a long way, and all along, elections have been a significant politico-socio-cultural aspect of independent India. India held general elections to the 15 Lok Sabha in five phases between 16 April 2009 and 13 May 2009. The average election turnout over all 5 phases was around 59.7%. The results of the election were announced on 16 May 2009. India\'s elections are considered the largest democratic elections in the world.

Conventionally, studies on elections were presented every time, the exercise is over. But only a few of these are research-based and authentic. Here is one such comprehensive, exhaustive and compact work, which is perhaps the first effort after recent elections. Present work would prove to be an asset for all politicians, bureaucrats, scholars, researchers, journalists and of course, the students of political science." (jacket)