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.
Yes, all the election (i.e. For Lok-sabha and vidhan-sabha) should be simultaneously,because by this desicion our India GOV. Will be Stable for 5 year And also meet freedom for take any desicion which will be helped for GOV. to passed any bill by Loksabha and Rajya sabha smoothly i.e.Without restriction.
Yes. it is preferred to conduct simultaneous elections to state and central legislatures. When such simultaneous elections are held for the first time, the
term of all the state governments shall be terminated by law or acceptance. The
term of the government can be fixed with strict criteria on the credentials of the
candidates contesting in elections.
Indian democracy is multiparty system where M.P. or MLA's elect PM or CM.Last 3 decades no single party comes to power and hence it leads to coalition govt. In between coalition fails due to many reasons; defection, poaching, dis-satisfaction with govt partners, political motive not served, coalition leading to image and erosion of vote bank. This causes fall of central or state govt before tenure. Hence technically not possible to hold Parliament & state election together!
for any election either lok sabha or vidhan sabha, for the candidates there should be certain criteria: means Certain Qualification, Character must be good and not involvement in legal cases(No punishment), favorite in their society (in nomination area) for which going for nomination.
Elections in our country become a horse trading & muscle power.To stop these practice all election become one and under President Rule. Also E-Voting should be allowed, it helps to prevent wrong practice and muscle power.
All elections should be held at one go. It will save huge cost for the country as there will no more logistics involved for vote machinery to act. Thus carrying two voting machine for each booth will suffice the requirement for casting vote for Lok Sabha and State assembly. Also no voter has to waste two days working days for state and Lok Sabha elections which means the productivity of the country increases.
Simultaneous elections for state assemblies and parliament will save time, effort, resources of the nation as the voters will check the voter list and then go to booths once, the election commission will save their resources by one time exercise of preparing and editing voter lists arranging staff and space for booths and above all public will not be facing parties' propaganda and false promises every now and then. There will be less noise, less clashes and fewer violations by the candidates.
All elections i.e. Lok sabha, Vidhan Sabhas and Panchayat elections should be held Simultaneously. It will reduce expenses, increase the time to work to a govt., reduces the using the manpower in elections.
