9 parties oppose proposal for simultaneous elections

9 parties oppose proposal for simultaneous elections

News:

1. Law Commission’s consultation with political parties on simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and State Assemblies ended without reaching a consensus.

Important facts:

2. Law panel has recommended holding simultaneous polls, but in two phases beginning 2019.

3. Four parties supported the idea, nine opposed it.

4. BJP sought more time to present its views, while congress said it will consult other parties.

5. Simultaneous elections:

• It refers to holding elections to Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies simultaneously, once in a five year.
• The idea of simultaneous elections is not new to India.
• In 1951-52, the first general election to the Lok Sabha was held simultaneously with all State Assemblies. This practice continued till the general election of 1967.
• This practice got disrupted due to premature dissolution of some states legislative assemblies in 1968.
• Consequently, the elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies are being held separately.
• In recent times, the idea got momentum once again with support from President and Prime Minister.
• Reports of Law Commission and parliamentary standing committee have also favoured simultaneous elections.

6. Arguments in favour:

• It will reduce election expenditure
• It will help in reduce diversion of human resources for election duties.
• Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during election season is an obstacle to the government service delivery mechanism. Simultaneous elections will reduces such disruptions.
• During elections, political convenience takes precedence over public interest. Simultaneous elections reduce such opportunity for political parties.
• It promotes national perspective over the regional perspective.
• Simultaneous elections bring States on par with the Centre. This reduces the anomalies created by the Article 356 of the Indian constitution and hence, it strengthens federalism.
• The simultaneous elections once in every five years provide stability to the governments. It also allows the government to take difficult and harsh decision in larger public interest.

7. Arguments against simultaneous elections:

• No surety on reducing expenditure of political parties.
• Simultaneous elections may reduce the importance of state elections.
• It negates the concept of ‘no confidence motion’, which is an important tool for legislative control over the executive.
• Simultaneous elections will relegate local issues or issues of state importance to the background. This ignores the diversity of the country.