The 2019 General election in India was the world’s largest democratic exercise in history. Often, elections have been referred to as the dance of democracy or festival of democracy in India. This book presents a comprehensive analysis of the broad patterns and trends in Indian elections from 1952 – the first elections in independent India - to 2019. With the help of extensive empirical data, it discusses themes like evolution of the Indian electoral systems; the model code of conduct and it’s violations; the institution of election commission in India; story of participatory upsurge; analysis of turnout in regional and national elections; the story of victory margins; irregular delimitation; challenges of money and muscle power; and, rationale behind simultaneous election. Topical and comprehensive, this book will be an essential read for scholars and researchers of election studies, political studies, Indian politics, South Asian studies, political sociology, public administration as well as for journalists and think tanks.