EC pulled up for backing simultaneous polls

EC pulled up for backing simultaneous polls

Context:

• Questions have been raised by lawmakers about Election Commission’s recent statements endorsing simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the Assemblies.

Background:

• There had been simultaneous elections until 1967, but the pattern changed after the dissolution of some Assemblies through the imposition of President’s rule under Article 356.
• Since then, there have been instances of two general elections within a year.
• The next Lok Sabha election is scheduled for 2019.
• In 2018, 13 States will go to the polls, nine in 2019 and one in 2020.

What are the arguments put forward by the law makers?

• Firstly, the election commission does not have the permission to decide on the issue.
• Secondly there is no guarantee that all the State governments and the Union government elected on the same day will survive for the next five years.
• Thirdly, our parliamentary system of governance does not permit simultaneous elections.

Steps needed to amend the Constitution to facilitate simultaneous elections:

• A constitutional amendment would have to be cleared by both Houses of Parliament.
• It would have to be ratified by the Assemblies of half of the States.
• The other way was for all Assemblies and the Union government to agree to the plan voluntarily.