What is the issue?
- Organising simultaneous polls for “lok sabha and state assemblies” is an ambitious task envisioned by the election commission.
- As it is a big a legal and logistical challenge presently, the “Chief Election Commissioner” (CEC) opined that it can’t be implemented anytime soon.
What are the challenges to organise simultaneous elections?
- The CEC recently ruled out the possibility of holding elections to the Lok Sabha this December along with polls to the Assemblies of four States.
- In addition to the constitutional amendment needed to extend or curtail assembly and parliamentary terms, the process also is resource intensive.
- Simultaneous elections would need more number of “electronic voting machines” (EVMs) and voter-verifiable paper audit (VVPAT) units.
- Moreover, ensuring the availability of VVPATs everywhere poses a logistical challenge, with dates for elections in 4 states approaching soon.
- Further, simultaneous elections will require the use of 24 lakh EVMs, but currently the election commission has only 12 lakh EVMs.
What are the varied opinions regarding simultaneous elections?
- A wide political consensus, as well as legislative cooperation from various parties, is required for holding simultaneous elections.
- It is natural that parties that control legislatures constituted in recent months or years would resist any curtailment of their tenures.
- While those in the Opposition may prefer simultaneous polls if it means Assembly elections being advanced.
- Significantly, BJP president Amit Shah has written to the Law Commission favouring simultaneous polls, giving a fillip to the idea.
- The crux of the argument in favour of the concept is that the country is perpetually in election mode, resulting in lack of focus on governance.
- The second contention is that scattered polling results in extra expenditure, which can be effectively reduced through simultaneous polls.
- Hence, the ultimate question before India is whether altering legislative terms undermine representative democracy and federalism.
- Considering the immense challenges, it would be far more productive for political parties to focus on basic electoral reforms to curb expenses.
Source: The Hindu
