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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.
