Indian national elections have evinced great interest in the country and abroad. They are a bulwark of the world's largest democracy. Over 675 million voters spread over urban, rural, and inaccessible and inhospitable locations join together to elect their 4652 representatives for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. The whole breathtaking exercise is spread over forty five days. The book describes and analyses the A to Z of this national festival. The contents of the study have been planned in sequential style. Lead subjects have been analytically dealt with in his torical perspectives. States' profiles unfold the changes in electoral scenario in differ ent States and Union Territories. All India constituency-wise poll data has been reflected with the preceding elections results. Election manifestos which the parties carry to the electorate to solicit their votes have been reproduced in
original with a prefatory note. This is the third book in the India Votes' series. It takes lead on the other two on several counts. Political parties agendas and pre and post-election alliances have been critically examined in the light of the original documents. State Assembly elec tions, so far a neglected study have been dealt with in a comprehensive way. The 37 statistical tables provide a synoptic view of electioneering since the first general elections held in 1952.