12.05.2006 - Source: Guardian

Sonia Gandhi and left win polls but Congress suffers ("Sonia Gandhi and left win polls but Congress suffers") [ID 15453]

Document(s): Open document

17.04.2006 - Source: BBC News

Gandhi files nomination for polls ("Gandhi files nomination for polls") [#49409],  [ID 15441]

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30.08.2005 - Source: BBC News

India and Pakistan have decided to free all civilian prisoners whose identities have been established and who have completed their prison terms on 12 September ("Nuclear rivals to free prisoners") [#36034],  [ID 6193]

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08.2005 - Source: Freedom House

Corruption in the political system ("Freedom in the World 2005") [#41316],  [ID 6192]

"[...]Despite the vibrancy of the Indian political system, effective and accountable rule continues to be undermined by political infighting, pervasive criminality in politics, decrepit state institutions, and widespread corruption. Transparency International's 2004 Corruption Perceptions Index ranked India in 90th place out of 145 countries. The electoral system depends on black money that is obtained though tax evasion and other means. Politicians and civil servants are regularly caught accepting bribes or engaging in other corrupt behavior, but are rarely prosecuted. Moreover, criminality is a pervasive feature of political life, with a number of candidates with criminal records being elected, particularly in the state legislatures. In 2002, the ECI was able to implement a Supreme Court directive requiring candidates seeking election to declare their financial assets, criminal records, and educational backgrounds. However, in June, The Economist reported that 100 of the 545 recently elected members of the national legislature were facing criminal charges.[...]"

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08.06.2004 - Source: BBC News

Parliament closed after protests by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led opposition demanding that the new government sack RJD ministers it deems unfit for office ("Protests close Indian parliament") [#23177],  [ID 6194]

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04.06.2004 - Source: BBC News

Supreme Court has delayed elections to the upper house of parliament after hearing a petition filed by a former member ("Delay to Indian upper house poll") [#23157],  [ID 6195]

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22.05.2004 - Source: BBC News

Manmohan Singh, a Sikh, has been sworn in as prime minister to lead the Congress Party's coalition government ("India swears in its first Sikh PM") [#22594],  [ID 6196]

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27.04.2004 - Source: BBC News

BJP has rejected exit polls which suggest strong gains for the opposition after the latest round of voting ("India's BJP plays down exit polls") [#21745],  [ID 6197]

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04.2004 - Source: UK Home Office

Political System ("Country Report - April 2004") [#22427],  [ID 6198]

"5.7 [...] Europa World Year book 1998 notes that, India is a federal republic, with legislative power vested in Parliament, which consists of the President and two Houses. The upper house, the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) has 245 members, most of whom are indirectly elected by the State Assemblies for 6 years (one third retiring every 2 years), the remainder being nominated by the President for 6 years. The Lower House, the Lok Sabha (House of the People) has 543 elected members, serving for 5 years. Two members of the Lok Sabha may be nominated by the President to represent the Anglo-Indian community, while the 543 members are directly elected by universal adult suffrage in single member constituencies.” [1a]

5.8 Europa World Year book 1998 notes that the President is a constitutional Head of State, elected for 5 years by an electoral college comprising elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the State legislatures. The President exercises executive power on the advice of the Council of Ministers, which is responsible to Parliament. The President appoints the Prime Minister and, on the latter's recommendation, other Ministers. [1a]

5.9 As stated in a CNN news article dated 7 November 2000, India has 28 States (29 if the capital region of Delhi is included).[33g] with constitutionally defined powers of Government. The States vary greatly in size, population and development. Each State has a Governor appointed by the President for 5 years, a legislature elected for 5 years, and a Council of Ministers headed by a chief minister. Each State has its own legislative, executive and judicial machinery, corresponding to that of the Indian Union, as reported in Europa World Year book. [1a] As stated in the US Department of State report 2003 (published 2004), State Governments are elected at regular intervals except in States under President's Rule. On the advice of the Prime Minister, the President may proclaim a State of Emergency in any part of the national territory in the event of war, external aggression, or armed rebellion. Similarly, President's Rule may be declared in the event of a collapse of a State's constitutional machinery. [2c](p23) According to Europa World Year Book, there are also 6 Union Territories and the National Capital Territory of Delhi, administered by Lieutenant Governors or Administrators, all of whom are appointed by the President. The Territories of Delhi and Pondicherry also have elected chief ministers and State assemblies. [1a]

5.10 As stated in the Europa World Year book 1998, the 28 States are: Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, [1a] Chhattisgarh, [33g] Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, [1a] Jharkhand, [33g] Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, [1a] Uttaranchal, [33g] and West Bengal. [1a] 5.11 The Territories are: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Delhi, Lakshadweep, and Pondicherry. [1a]"

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25.02.2004 - Source: US Department of State

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2003 ("Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2003") [#19765],  [ID 6199]

"India is a longstanding parliamentary democracy with a bicameral parliament. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, whose Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leads a multi party coalition, heads the Government. President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who was elected in 2002 by an electoral college consisting of Members of Parliament and members of state assemblies, is Head of State and also has special emergency powers. State Assembly elections held in December in Mizoram, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh were considered to be generally free and fair; however, there were reports of some violence. The judiciary is independent; however, the judiciary was underfunded, overburdened, and NGOs alleged that corruption influenced court decisions.

Although the 28 state governments have primary responsibility for maintaining law and order, the central Government provides guidance and support through the use of paramilitary forces throughout the country. The Union Ministry for Home Affairs controls most of the paramilitary forces, the internal intelligence bureaus, and the nationwide police service; it provides training for senior police officers of the state-organized police forces. The armed forces are under civilian control."

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24.02.2004 - Source: BBC News

India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has suspended DP Yadav, a member with alleged criminal links ("BJP drops MP over criminal links") [#19664],  [ID 6200]

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06.02.2004 - Source: BBC News

Indian President Abdul Kalam has dissolved the lower house of parliament ahead of general elections expected in April ("Indian parliament dissolved") [#19228],  [ID 6201]

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