📘 Q.4 IAS Prelims 2021 — Polity & Governance: Contesting from Multiple Constituencies
🧷 Authentic Classroom Explanation by IAS Monk
📍 The Question:
Consider the following statements:
- In India, there is no law restricting the candidates from contesting in one Lok Sabha election from three constituencies.
- In 1991 Lok Sabha Election, Shri Devi Lal contested from three Lok Sabha constituencies.
- As per the existing rules, if a candidate contests in one Lok Sabha election from many constituencies, his/her party should bear the cost of bye-elections to the constituencies vacated by him/her in the event of him/her winning in all the constituencies.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 2 and 3
✅ Correct Answer: (b)
🔎 Curiosity Raiser (UPSC factual trap)
UPSC is testing historical practice vs current law.
A past exception is not proof of present permissibility.
🧠 Core Concept Tested
Representation of the People Act, 1951 — limits on contesting constituencies
🔍 Classroom Explanation (UPSC Prelims Focused)
Statement 1 ❌
- Section 33 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 clearly states:
- A person shall not be nominated as a candidate from more than two Parliamentary constituencies in a general election.
- Hence, contesting from three constituencies is not permitted under current law.
👉 Statement 1 is incorrect.
Statement 2 ✅
- In the 1991 Lok Sabha election, Shri Devi Lal contested from three constituencies.
- This occurred before the legal restriction was enforced.
👉 Statement 2 is correct.
Statement 3 ❌
- There is no legal provision requiring:
- the political party to bear the cost of bye-elections if a candidate vacates seats after winning from multiple constituencies.
- Such proposals have been discussed but not enacted into law.
👉 Statement 3 is incorrect.
❌ Why the final answer is (b)
- Only Statement 2 is correct.
- Statements 1 and 3 are incorrect.
📘 Enrich Notes (Prelims Value Add)
- RPA, 1951 (Section 33) → Maximum two constituencies allowed
- Earlier practice → Multiple contests were allowed before amendment
- Bye-election cost → Borne by the public exchequer, not the party
📌 Prelims Recall Line
History allowed three; law allows only two.
🧘♂️ IAS Monk Whisper
Democracy learns from excess,
and law tightens where history once allowed.