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.
Rather than Allowing each party for election campaign. The election commission must be authorized for a common election campaign for all the parties of a particular constituency against a prescribed common fees for all the parties. The advertisement may contain the resolution and past works for each party. The finalization of the advertisement must be done in presence of all the party representatives to avoid any sort of misinformation in the election advertisement.
Open for further discussi
YES PLS HAVE SIMULTANEOUS ELECTIONS. IF POSSIBLE, KINDLY COMPLETELY GET RID OF RAJYA SABHA TOO IN THE PROCESS. ALSO DILUTE OTHER ELECTIONS LIKE MUNICIPAL, PANCHAYAT, ETC.
Yes all the election must be held together as on the basis of today's it can be said that the voters are astute and know whom to vote. Moreover it will also help to save the valuable time of the nation and will bring the nation out of the continuous election phase. Also the voting turnout will also proliferate. So with an amicable deliberation it must be ratified as soon as possible.
Yes, The system of simultaneous elections both at Center & States will have greater impact on governance & economy. However before its implementations lot of reforms need to be done in the election process especially eliminating the parties not have much people support, Parties supporting particular religion caste etc., Also preventing the criminal back ground persons either directly or indirectly.Upper age limit & min. educational qualification must be enforced for contesting the elections.
It would be good from governance perspective also. Due to this code of conduct during general elections govt also becomes paralyzed. Because of which there is huge time loss for governments.
It is in the interest of democracy. Details of various scenarios can be workrd out by expert groups. Time has come for this structural reform. As a soldier i missed the election festivities for two decades being away from my home constituency, with this reform next genration of solders will have say in government formation. We must go for this.
Yes this has to be opted but the system should be strong from its roots elected representatives must have a keen observation on what is happening because it will effect the people worse
