Elections as They Really Are

Nalini Singh Limbering Up THIS account of the election process is based on actual experiences in various parliamentary constituencies in north Bihar, in the last parliamentary elections. There is evidence to show that this pattern prevails over a large part of the country, north and north-west UP and north and central Bihar, covering about 75 parliamentary constituencies. Adult franchise in those areas has been replaced by vicarious franchise, a process in which stalwarts of the country militia sponsored by the contesting candidates perform the function of 'mass voting' on behalf of the electorate.