Election to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies

India follows a parliamentary system of government where citizens participate in various levels of elections - Lok Sabha (national level), state legislative assemblies (state level) and local bodies (city and village level). The country is divided into 543 constituencies for the Lok Sabha elections. The elected candidates to the Lok Sabha are known as Member of Parliament (MPs), whereas candidates elected to the state assemblies are known as Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs). India uses the 'First-Past-the-Post' electoral system, wherein the candidate receiving the most votes in a constituency wins.

After the voting process is completed, the process of government formation begins. The political party or coalition winning a majority of the seats in the Lok Sabha forms the national government. The leader of the majority typically becomes the prime minister. Similarly, at the state level, the leader of the majority party become the chief minister.

Election to the Rajya Sabha

The candidates elected to the Rajya Sabha are also known as Members of Parliament (MPs), but they are chosen through indirect elections.

Of the 245 members of the Rajya Sabha, 233 are chosen by the elected members of the state legislative assemblies (MLAs), while the President of India nominates 12. Each state is allotted a different number of Rajya Sabha seats based on population. 

The Rajya Sabha is also called the Permanent hHouse - it is never dissolved. A member of the Rajya Sabha has a six-year term. One-third of its members retire every two years, and new members are elected (through single-transferable-vote-system).

Election of the President of India

The President of India is not directly elected by the common people. Instead, an electoral college is formed to carry out the election. This electoral college consists of:

• Members of Parliament (MPs) from both the houses of Parliament - Lok Sabha (Lower House) and the Rajya Sabha (Upper House)
• Members of the Legislative Assembles (MLAs) from each of India's states and the union terrirtories of Delhi and Puducherry

The single transferable vote system is followed in this election. The following group of people is not involved in electing the President of India:

• Nominated members of Rajya Sabha (12)
• Nominated members of State Legislative Assemblies
• Members of Legislative Councils (both elected and nominated) in bicameral legislatures
• Nominated members of union territories of Delhi and Puducherry

It is because this ensures that only directly elected representatives vote to elect the President. This maintains democratic legitimacy, as the President is meant to represent the will of the people, indirectly but meaningfully.

Election to the Vice President of India

The Vice President of India is elected by an electoral college consisting of the elected and nominated members of both Houses of Parliament; again the system of single transferable vote is used.

The Vice President is the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. If there are situations when the President is not able to discharge their function, the Vice President steps in to play the role.