(1) If the number of contesting candidates is more than the number of seats to be filled, a poll shall be taken.
(2) If the number of such candidates is equal to the number of seats to be filled, the Returning Officer shall forthwith declare all such candidates to be duly elected to fill those seats.
(3) If the number of such candidates is less than the number of seats to be filled, the Returning Officer shall forthwith declare all such candidates to be elected and the Election Commission shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, call upon the constituency or the elected members, to elect a person or persons to fill the remaining seat or seats, as the case may be:
Provided that where the constituency or the elected members having already been called upon under this sub-section, has or have failed to elect a person or the requisite number of persons, as the case may be, to fill the vacancy or vacancies, the Election Commission shall not be bound to call again upon the constituency, or such members to elect a person or persons until it is satisfied that if called upon again, there will be no such failure on the part of the constituency of such members.
Procedure in contested and uncontested elections.
55. For the avoidance of doubt, it is hereby declared that a member of the Scheduled Castes shall not be disqualified to hold a seat not reserved for members of those castes, if he is otherwise qualified to hold such seat under the Constitution of India and this Act.