Post-independence, every election in India sees smooth transition of power: LS Speaker India Published: Friday, January 8, 2021, 15:35 [IST] Dehradun, Jan 08: The smooth transition of power after 17 General elections and over 300 Assembly polls in the country since independence is a sailent feature of Indian democracy, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Friday. Keeping the people at the centre of governance has been the basic concept of the Constitution and has deepened the faith of citizens in democracy, he said. Birla also said the country cannot be empowered without strengthening the Panchayati Raj institutions and making them more accountable to the people. Speaking at an outreach programme here to introduce and familiarise Panchayat representatives with the functioning of the Parliament and democratic principles, Birla said Gram Panchayats were the main force behind the strength of Indian democracy.