Sovereigns without crowns: behavioural analysis of the Indian electoral process

The study of voting behaviour in particular and electoral behaviour in general has an important place in a democratic set-up. The largest democracy in the world has been in operation for more than two decades. Five general elections have taken place and democracy seems to have struck deep roots in the Indian soil.

The political behaviour of the citizen-voter, the candidates and the party-workers, in our country deserves a close scrutiny. For the functioning of democracy depends primarily on how the elec toral process operates. It is through this process that the poli tical elites are chosen to govern the country for the next five years. This process confers the necessary legitimacy on the ruling elite.V

The present effort has been directed towards understanding the electoral process in India. It is believed that such efforts would contribute to the strengthening of the democratic process, by revealing the underlying forces which help or hinder it.