The desirability of holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas has been discussed at various levels. A considered view is that simultaneous elections will ...
The desirability of holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas has been discussed at various levels. A considered view is that simultaneous elections will not only keep alive the enthusiasm of voters, but will also result in huge savings to the public exchequer as well as avoiding repetition of administrative effort. It is also expected to control the expenses of political parties. Simultaneous elections will also avoid repeated enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct which affects administrative actions by the government.
President of India, His Excellency Shri Pranab Mukherjee has also expressed his views on the desirability of holding simultaneous elections. Speaking at a recent function, The President said that “With some election or the other throughout the year, normal activities of the government come to a standstill because of code of conduct. This is an idea the political leadership should think of. If political parties collectively think, we can change it.... The Election Commission can also put in their idea and efforts on holding the polls together and that will be highly beneficial”
Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has spoken several times on considering the feasibility of holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. In two recent TV discussions, the Prime Minister reiterated this idea and invited a national debate on the issue.
Debate on the Issue - A Brief History
In India, simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha (House of The People) and Vidhan Sabhas (State Legislative Assemblies) were organized in the years 1951-52, 1957, 1962 and 1967. Thereafter, however, the schedule could not be maintained and the elections to the Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabhas have still not been realigned.
The next General Election to the Lok Sabha is scheduled for 2019. Elections for the Vidhan Sabhas of 5 States are scheduled for 2017, for 13 States in 2018, for 9 States in 2019, for 1 State 2020 and the remaining are scheduled for 2021.
The issue of simultaneous elections was debated by the Law Commission in its 107thReport in 1999 (Reform of Electoral Laws) , where in it was mentioned that – “The rule ought to be one election once in five years for Lok Sabha and all Legislative Assemblies” ( Para 7.2.1.1 of the Report). Recently, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice presented its 79th Report on ‘Feasibility of holding Simultaneous Elections to the House of People (Lok Sabha) and State Legislative Assemblies’ on 17th December 2015.
Several structural changes will need to be done in case a decision is made to conduct simultaneous election, including possibility of Constitutional amendments to Articles 83, 172, 85 and 174 to streamline the process.
Seventy Ninth Report Parliamentary Standing Committee for PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES, LAW AND JUSTICEMyGov Discussion
MyGov invites citizens, Parliamentarians, Members of Legislative assemblies and councils, constitutional experts, academics experts, bureaucrats, social media influencers, Think Tanks and all other interested people to give their considered view on the subject. The issues that can be considered while formulating a view are (only an indicative list and not exhaustive):
1. Is it desirable to hold simultaneous elections? What are the pros and cons?
2. If simultaneous elections are held, then for the first time what happens to assemblies whose scheduled tenure either ends before or after the proposed date of holding elections?
3. Should the term of Lok Sabha and assemblies be fixed?
4. What would happen in case by-elections are necessitated in between terms?
5. What happens in case the ruling party or coalition loses majority in between term, either in Lok Sabha or in State assemblies?
You may submit your opinion by either writing in the comment box below, or by attaching a PDF document, or through a Youtube video.
The last for submitting your opinion is 15th October, 2016.
Simultaneous election would save crores of money to the Government as well as it reduces the plenty of complexities involved in election process. At the same time, simultaneous election should not deride the enthusiasm of federal nature of our country. Also this would add some advantage to the national parties.
#SimultaneousElections#ElectionCommission
I support this idea especially for development. This simultaneous elections is biggest resistance for growth of the state as well as for country.
When elections is declared in a state all developement work for that state are being stopped. Then to continue that development work we've to depend on result of the election i.e. Whose party won the election. If new party is opposition of GOI then that work stopped & new will start. Sad but truth.
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In view of simultaneous elections my opinion is, this is a very god think but its a long process for India its help to save our Money, times, and others. Its a very helpful for our future so, we need ti very soon.
Elections can be held simultaneously. But frequent elections make politicians much more responsible for people.
The voting pattern of the people will be mostly the same in the simultaneous elections.
Dissolution of the assembly or parliament will cause a major problem without having laws to pass no confidence motion along with confidence motion by the opposition
If simultaneously polls are held then india's federal structure may be broken and it may look like a unitary nation .
Suggestions for electoral reforms
In my view , it will be preferable to hold the elections for the Parliament and Assemblies simultaneously . The terms of the Lok Sabha and the State Assemblies should be for a fixed period and there has to be an in-built provision for preventing mid-term elections . This would also mean that the election process should be modified for ensuring that the party which wins the election will have majority and this majority can not be modified through defection
This cn surely be tym and cost effective and leaders can focus more on development, but there is a tendency in people to vote for the same party in simultaneous elections.Hence it can dilute federalism.
Ans:
1.Yes, it's desirable
2.Divide states in 2 groups:Elections with LS and 2.5 yrs after LS. Extend the assemblies for 1st tym
3.No
4.Bye elections are nt major problem.
5.Introduce system like Panchayats where newly elected members will remain for remaining period not for complete 5 yrs.
