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.
Helding election for India as a common is good idea and it make financial burden to be less and also make govt bureaucracy to work efficiently. But some of the problem like existing state government period of completion ,by election in case any resignation, death etc.and coalition of party forming government in our democracy and merger of 2/3 member by 10th schedule in our constitution needs to be addressed.
be beneficial but if we see it thoroughly its very clear that India lack the resources to conduct such a huge event and there seems no direct benefit apart from the economical benefit.I would suggest that instead of conducting simultaneous election there should be 2 to 3 simultaneous elections each consisting of 10 to 12 states.It would solve the problem and India currently have enough resources to conduct such task.
It is a good idea and should be appreciated to our PM for this initiative he has taken. It will reduce cost and administrative time. Please thought for Direct elections for PM, CM.
It will be effective in cost cutting and unnecessary wastage of resources. the time money and resources can be effectively used for better nation building
THE IDEA IS GOOD,BUT THERE STILL STANDS MANY HURDLES LIKE POLITICAL WILLPOWER.
The country's benefits should be at no.1 priority but nowadays opposing and disrupting government is seen as main motive in parliament.Let's all remember we are doing it for our country and future generations.Let's give them hope and employment instead of despair,corruption & poverty.
Prime minister is doing a great job.We should do ours too.
In addition to matters of convenience & cost, simultaneous holding of elections will give a boost to governance. whether we like it or not there is an element of populism that creeps in whenever there is an election and it is better to have it once in 5 years rather than once every half year. also government will not be under pressure to pander to postpone measures that are in national interest but may not appeal to the masses in the short term
My appreciations for the Noble Thought.
Yes, all the elections for Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas (if possible Panchayat & Muncipal) should be held simultaneously.
This helps in:
1. Reducing financial burdens,
2. Less effort,
3. Police & Election dept are not over-stressed,
4. Police can focus more on Public Safety,
5. Political parties will stop/reduce doing their "Special Election Politics" & can get more time to focus on public issues.
N.B: People/Parties who get matl benefits may oppose
it's is great idea for conducting the elections simultaneous (espl. for Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha). We can not save only money but also can save other things as well like also save the life of many people (which is more often in Kerala, Bengal and other states etc in the name of political murder), government machinery and political parties will be more focusing on their development work rather than focusing on poll preparations, reduce the black money inflow etc.
