Table of Contents
Question
- Frequent elections lead to ‘disruption’ of normal public life and impact the functioning of essential services. In light of the above statement, critically analyze the feasibility of Simultaneous parliamentary & state legislative elections in India.
The News
- Recently, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju informed the Lok Sabha that The issue of holding simultaneous Parliamentary and Assembly elections has been referred to the Law Commission of India for a practicable roadmap and a framework be worked out.
- In a “written reply”, the minister also cited a report of a Parliamentary panel which noted that frequent elections lead to “disruption” of normal public life and impact the functioning of essential services.
What is this Simultaneous Election?
- Simultaneous elections basically means holding elections to Lok Sabha and all State Legislative Assemblies simultaneously, once in five year.
- The idea of holding elections simultaneously is ardently supported by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- Currently, elections to the state assemblies and the Lok Sabha are held separately ie: whenever the incumbent government’s five-year term ends or whenever it is dissolved due to various reasons.
What is this Simultaneous Election?
- 2019 – General elections & Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim elections
- 2019 – Oct – Nov – Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand elections
- 2020 – Delhi & Bihar Election
- 2021 – Assam, Kerala, West Bengal, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu elections
- 2022 – Goa, Manipur, Punjab, UP, Uttarakhand, HP, Gujarat, J&K elections
- 2023 – Telangana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, MP, Chhattisgarh, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya
Why so many elections?
So What is the issue?
- Frequent elections lead to multiple problems
- Model code of conduct & Governance timeout
- Policy paralysis
- Elections are costly affair in India
- Black money & Political corruption
- Burden on state machinery
So, can we bring simultaneous elections?
- Conducting simultaneous elections might be tough..!!
- Can we bring consensus over the issue?
- How do we synchronize the houses?
- Is it legally/constitutionally possible?
- Will it confuse the voters? National issues or local issue
- Is it logistically possible?
What is the expert opinion?
- Earlier Law Commission of India recommended simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and State Legislative. 21st Law Commission had said it was convinced that “there exists a viable environment, necessitating the holding of simultaneous elections to the House of the People and the State Legislatures.”
- Election Commission of India has also extended its in-principle support for the simultaneous elections & so has NITI aayog.
- 79th report of the parliamentary standing committee on Law and Justice recommended a two phase election schedule
- One concurrent with Lok Sabha elections
- Second in the mid-term of the Lok Sabha
Food for thought…
- Is simultaneous elections a panacea to problems of electoral politics in India?
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