India’s First-of- its-kind Book – ‘Election Atlas of India’– Launched

NEW DELHI:
Datanet India – India’s premier IT-enabled organization disseminating socio-economic and electoral statistical data – today released its book titled, Election Atlas of India, at the World Book Fair in New Delhi. Carrying a Foreword by Dr Nasim Zaidi, former Chief Election Commissioner of India,the book is edited and published by Dr R K Thukral, Director – Datanet India.
In the Foreword, Dr Nasim Zaidi, former Chief Election Commissioner of Indianotes:“The Atlas uses statistical data collected and collated at various levels about electors, candidates, gender and marginalized sections in terms of electoral participation and many other consequential factors related to elections. These new parameters and aspects are depicted in the form of impressive graphs, charts and thematic maps based on GIS technology with tremendous clarity.
The Atlas also highlights historical data about bye-elections in Parliamentary Constituencies and alteration in constituencies following the delimitations and also during thereorganization of states. On reading the Atlas, I also noted that it has many interesting stories built around one common thread of electoral participation, narrated in the form of data and information. These thematic stories will be edifying to stakeholders and provide an in- depth insight to readers into the evolution of the Indian electoral system. The editor has rightly given explanatory notes and disclaimer at the end of the compilation.”
Revealing select highlights, book Editor Dr R K Thukralnoted that India’s electorate is larger than the combined populations of the US and Western Europe. This Atlas is a historical Parliamentary Election reference book on electoral features and election results of all Parliamentary Constituencies from the first General Election till date. The systematic and chronological presentation of information (1952 to 2014)through thematic maps, supported with data and information obtained from authentic sources,offera realistic picture of India’s electoral system. After a rigorously mapping every village and town, the demographic features of Parliamentary Constituencies based on the 2011 estimates are outlined in the Atlas for the last parliamentary election 2014.
Moreover, interesting information is presented via graphs and charts to highlight the historical overview of elections, while certain terms have been coined to make the analysis more understandable,such as polarity of parties, socio-religious dominance, combined national and state parties’ vote distribution, etc. Historical data about bye-elections and alteration in Parliamentary Constituencies have been added,making this Atlas a treasure trove collection.
As a useful information resource, the Election Atlas of Indiawill be a ready reckoner for politicians as well as academicians, researchers, political scientists, media professionals, democracy advocates and election functionaries who will find this Atlas an indispensable reference book on India’s General Elections.
Concluded Datanet India Director Dr Thukral: “Datanet India was established in February 2000 to render services in the socio-economic information domain. It is unmatched in providing secondary-level socio-economic and electoral statistical information about India, its states, regions, districts and electoral constituencies to the global research fraternity since the past 17 years through its 700-plus websites and more than 3,000 publications. Datanet India’sflagship websites are Indiastat.com, DistrictsofIndia.com, ElectionsinIndia.com and Datanetindia-ebooks.com.ElectionsinIndia.com offers geospatial analysis of election results at the town, village and booth level through the help of GIS maps.”