Eligibility Criteria to become a Member of Lok Sabha

India is the largest democratic country.in the world. Since India claims to be the largest democratic country it has certain procedure to maintain it. The main is the election to the Lok Sabha. In order to contest in the Lok Sabha Elections a certain set of rules has to be followed.

Article 84 (Part V.—The Union)  of Indian Constitution sets qualifications for being a member of Lok Sabha, which are as follows:

1.  He / She should be a citizen of India, and must subscribe before the Election Commission of India an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule of Indian Constitution.

2.  He / She should not be less than 25 years of age.

3.  He / She possesses such other qualifications as may be prescribed in that behalf by or under any law made by Parliament.

4.  He / She should not be proclaimed criminal i.e. they should not be a convict, a confirmed debtor or otherwise disqualified by law.

5.  He / She should have his/her name in the electoral rolls in any part of the country.

However, a member can be disqualified of being a member of Parliament:

1.  If he / she holds office of profit.

2.  If he / she is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court

3.  If he / she is an undischarged insolvent.

4.  If he / she is not a citizen of India or has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a foreign State or is under any acknowledgment of allegiance or adherence to a foreign State. If he / she is violating party discipline (as per Tenth schedule of the constitution); disqualified under Representation of People Act.

A seat in the Lok Sabha will become vacant in the following circumstances (during normal functioning of the House):

1.  When the holder of the seat, by writing to the speaker, resigns.

2.  When the holder of the seat is absent from 60 consecutive days of proceedings of the House, without prior permission of the Speaker.

3.  When the holder of the seat is subject to any disqualifications mentioned in the Constitution or any law enacted by Parliament.

4.  A seat may also be vacated when the holder stands disqualified under the 'Anti-Defection Law.

Furthermore, as per article 101 (Part V.—The Union) of the Indian Constitution, a person cannot be:

1.  A member of both Houses of Parliament and provision shall be made by Parliament by law for the vacation by a person who is chosen a member of both Houses of his seat in one House or the other.

2.  A member both of Parliament and of a House of the Legislature of a State.

System of elections in Lok Sabha

Members of the Lok Sabha are directly elected by the people of India, on the basis of Universal Suffrage. For the purpose of holding direct elections to Lok Sabha; each state is divided into territorial constituencies. In this respect, the constitution of India makes the following two provisions:

1.  Each state is allotted a number of seats in the Lok Sabha in such a manner that the ratio between that number and its population is same for all the states of India. This provision does not apply for states having a population of less than 6 million (60 lakhs).

2.  Each state is divided into territorial constituencies in such a manner that the ratio between the population of each constituency and the number of seats allotted to it remain the same throughout the state.