The correct option is (a).
Explanation
India follows a territorial constituency-based system for elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, primarily governed by the Constitution of India and the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The system is based on the First Past The Post (FPTP) model.Statement 1 is Correct: For the purpose of elections, each state is divided into specific geographical areas called territorial constituencies. In the election of the Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha), each constituency elects exactly one representative. This is known as a single-member constituency system.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: It is not mandatory for a candidate to belong to a registered political party to contest elections. Any eligible citizen who meets the constitutional and statutory requirements (such as age and citizenship) can contest elections as an "Independent" candidate without any party affiliation.
Key Takeaway: State Legislative Assembly elections utilize single-member constituencies, and the electoral framework allows both party-affiliated candidates and independent candidates to contest.