A candidate who does not belong to any political party.
Explanation
In the Indian democratic framework, the right to contest elections is a statutory right derived from the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Candidates are categorized based on their affiliation: those set up by registered political parties and those contesting without such affiliation.
Option Analysis:
- A candidate who belongs to a party that is not the ruling party. is Incorrect: A candidate belonging to a party other than the ruling party is simply a member of the opposition or another political entity. They are still considered party-sponsored candidates, not independents.
- A candidate who does not belong to any political party. is Correct: An Independent candidate is explicitly defined as a contestant who is not set up by any recognized or registered political party. Such candidates file their nomination papers with the support of a specified number of proposers (usually ten electors from the constituency) as mandated by the Representation of the People Act, 1951. They are allotted symbols from the list of "free symbols" by the Election Commission of India.
- A candidate who is appointed by the Governor. is Incorrect: The Governor does not appoint candidates for elections. While the Governor has limited powers to nominate members to the Legislative Council in states with bicameral legislatures, this is distinct from the process of contesting a direct election.
- A candidate who runs for both state and national elections simultaneously. is Incorrect: Contesting multiple seats (e.g., a Parliamentary and an Assembly seat) is a procedural possibility for both party candidates and independents (subject to restrictions). It does not define the category of the candidate.
Key Takeaway:
An Independent candidate is one who contests elections without the sponsorship or symbol of any registered political party, relying instead on a "free symbol" allotted by the Returning Officer.