Have you ever wondered about who can become the Prime Minister of India? We hear about political parties, elections and leaders who take decisions, but how can anyone reach that highest political office in India? Is this reserved only for high career politicians or can common man or ordinary citizen ever dream of getting to this position? Who can become the Prime Minister of India?
The Prime Minister is the head of our Indian government, and plays a very important role. It is another fact that many people are not fully aware about its eligibility criteria and process. This blog aims to explain everything in a straightforward and easy-to-understand way— the answer to “Who can become Prime Minister of India?” without any confusing legal jargon.
Whether you are just curious or are preparing for an exam, or someone who likes to read about how democracy works, this article will answer your queries. Let us explore what it truly takes to become the Prime Minister of India!
1. The Prime Minister’s Role
Before understanding the criteria, it is important to know what the Prime Minister does. The Indian Prime Minister (PM) is the head of the government, who leads the country. Similarly, the President of India is the constitutional head, but most of the real power is held by the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers. The Prime Minister represents India globally, chairs cabinet meetings, advises the President on various matters and ensures that the government runs very smoothly.
In short, the PM is the captain of the ship who is steering the nation through both calm and stormy waters.
2. Constitutional Provisions
Under the Indian Constitution, article 74 and 75 deal with the appointment and powers of the Prime Minister of India.
· Article 74 states that there shall be a Council of Ministers which is headed by the Prime Minister to aid and advise the President.
· Article 75 outlines the process of appointment, tenure and other conditions related to the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
Although the President of India appoints the Prime Minister, this appointment is not arbitrary. By convention and constitutional practice, the President appoints the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Lok Sabha (House of the People).
In case where no party has a clear majority, the President exercises his discretion to appoint the person who is most likely to command a majority in the Lok Sabha.
This ensures that the PM enjoys the confidence of the lower house of Parliament, reflecting the democratic principle of majority rule.
3. Who can become the Prime Minister of India?
A. Basic Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the office of Prime Minister, a person must satisfy all these conditions:
1. Citizenship: He/She must be a citizen of India.
2. Age Requirement: The person should be at least 25 years old if contesting for the Lok Sabha. The person should be at least 30 years old if contesting for the Rajya Sabha.
3. Parliamentary Membership: The individual must be a member of either House of the Parliament (Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha). If the appointed person is not a member at the time of appointment, they must get elected within 6 months. Otherwise, they must step down from the constitutional post of the Prime Minister of India.
4. Office of Profit: In order to be appointed as the Prime Minister of India, the person should not hold an office of profit under the Government of India or any state government, ensuring no conflict of Interest. These criteria ensure that the Prime Minister is an experienced individual with Parliamentary representation and a connection to the democratic process.
B. Disqualifications
While the Constitution specifies eligibility criteria, Articles 102 and 191 outline its disqualifications. A person cannot become or continue as India’s Prime Minister if they:
• Are declared of unsound mind by a competent court.
• Are an undischarged insolvent (someone unable to pay debts).
• Voluntarily acquire the citizenship of a foreign country or pledge Allegiance to another nation.
• Are convicted of certain offenses, especially those related to corruption Or moral turpitude, leading to disqualification under the Representation Of the People Act, 1951.
4. Political Requirements and Practical Considerations
Fulfilling the constitutional criteria is just the beginning. Political realities play a significant role in determining who will become the Prime Minister.
Leader of the Majority
Typically, The Prime Minister is the leader of the party or coalition which secures majority in the Lok Sabha (at least 272 out of 543 seats).
Coalition Politics
In cases of a hung parliament (without a clear majority), alliances and negotiations become crucial. Coalition governments have been very common in India, especially during the time of 1990s.
Party Leadership
While technically any MP can be chosen, but political parties mostly select their Parliamentary Political Leaders to be nominated for post of Prime Minister of India.
Example: In 1998, Atal Bihari Vajpayee became PM with the support of a Multi-party coalition known as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Similarly, Dr. Manmohan Singh led the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Coalition from 2004 to 2014.
5. Can a Rajya Sabha member become a Prime Minister?
This may be surprising for many, but yes, a Rajya Sabha (Council of states) member can also become Prime Minister.
Example: Dr. Manmohan Singh, who was a Rajya Sabha member from Assam, became the Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014. Indira Gandhi also won from both the houses during her political career.
The Debate on Legitimacy
While it is constitutionally recognized, but many argue that the representation of people in the Rajya Sabha is not as much as it is in the Lok Sabha. Because Lok Sabha is directly elected house. However, as long as the PM commands the confidence of the Lok Sabha, their legitimacy remains constitutionally intact.
6. Special Scenarios and Exceptions in the appointment of PM
There are several political situations that have shaped the appointment of Prime Ministers in India:
A. Appointment of PM Without Being a Parliament Member:
The article of 75(5) of The Indian Constitution states that any person who is not a member of Parliament, can be appointed as Prime Minister of India. There is a mandatory condition that they must be elected within six months from the date of their appointment as the Prime Minister.
Example: P.V. Narasimha Rao was appointed as PM, though he wasn’t an MP, but later elected within the stipulated time period.
B. Hung Parliament and Presidential Discretion:
When no party secures a clear majority, the President of India exercises his discretion by inviting the largest party or coalition to form the present government. After that a vote of confidence takes place in the Lok Sabha .
Example: In 1996, after a fractured mandate, the then President Shankar Dayal Sharma invited Atal Bihari Vajpayee to form the government, which eventually lasted only for 13 Days due to lack of majority.
C. Caretaker Prime Minister:
During the Lok Sabha or parliamentary dissolution, the sitting PM serves as a caretaker until the new government forms.
Example: After the 2014 elections, Dr. Manmohan Singh acted as a caretaker PM until Narendra Modi was sworn in.
Conclusion
To become the Prime Minister of India, it is not enough to just fulfill the constitutional qualifications, but it also demands leadership quality, trust of the people, their support and the backing of a powerful party.
Although any Indian citizen can become the Prime Minister of India by fulfilling the criteria, but he/she should have the ability to handle the complex politics of this real world.
Ultimately, this process ensures that the Prime Minister, whether in the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha, represents the will of the people and at the same time upholds and preserves the democratic principles of our Constitution.
The Constitutional answer to who can become the Prime Minister of India has been decoded by our intern, Ms Ankita Shaw. She has been assisting the team in bringing informational legal blogs.
