Mandating Minimum Vote Threshold for Unopposed Candidates Would Be a "Welcoming and Progressive Step": SC

The Supreme Court has proposed that candidates in uncontested elections should secure a minimum vote share to be declared elected, calling it a “progressive step” to uphold democratic legitimacy.

The court proposed this while hearing a PIL by Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, which questioned the constitutionality of declaring unopposed candidates elected without any vote under Section 53(2) of the RPA, 1951.

The Court suggested that even sole candidates must secure a minimum vote share such as 10-15% to reflect democratic legitimacy and urged the Centre and ECI to consider legal amendments, seeking a response in four weeks.