Consider the following statements : 1. In India, there is no law restricting the candidates from contesting in one Lok Sabha election from three constituencies. 2. In 1991 Lok Sabha Election, Shri Devi Lal contested from three Lok Sabha constituencies. 3. 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 ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) 1 and 3
- (d) 2 and 3
Why the answer is (b)
• Statement 1 is wrong: Section 33(7) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (inserted in 1996) limits a candidate to contesting from at most two constituencies in one election.
• Statement 2 is correct: in 1991, before that limit, Devi Lal contested from three Lok Sabha seats — Sikar, Rohtak and Ferozepur — and lost all three.
• Statement 3 is wrong: no rule makes the party bear bye-election costs; the Election Commission and Law Commission have only recommended such a provision or a one-seat rule.
• The Supreme Court in 2023 declined to strike down the two-seat provision.
• Hence 2 only, option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 only
- Statement 1 is wrong: the law limits candidates to two seats.
- (c) 1 and 3
- Statements 1 and 3 are wrong.
- (d) 2 and 3
- Statement 3 is wrong: no such cost-bearing rule exists.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2021, held on 10 October 2021. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.