Committee on simultaneous elections

The government recently constituted a committee headed by former President of India (Ram Nath Kovind) to explore the possibility of one nation, one election.

Background:

• The first elections in independent India (1952 and 1957) were simultaneous but a series of political changes in different states changed this cycle.
• Defections and counter-defections led to the dissolution of Assemblies, which separated the poll cycles of many states from the central elections.
• At present, Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim are held along with the Lok Sabha polls.
• In recent years, Assemblies could complete tenures due to anti-defection law (1985) and Court judgments on invoking Article 356.
  • Article 356: President’s Rule can be imposed on any state on the grounds of failure of the constitutional machinery.
  • It can be invoked on report from the Governor or otherwise if state government cannot govern according to the provisions of the Constitution or fails to comply with directions of Union government on certain matters.
• The Supreme Court (SC) directed that the President can suspend a state Assembly, but cannot dissolve it without the concurrence of Parliament.
  • The validity of proclamation of President’s rule can be examined by the judiciary.

Arguments on holding simultaneous elections:

• It would address concerns like reducing the cost of holding elections by limiting all elections to a single season.
• It will save time, expenditure, and administrative labour.
• It can be possible if the elections are held over a span of three to four months.
• The Model Code of Conduct hinders announcement of projects or policy plans.
• The Election Commission (ECI) in 1983 and 170^th report of Law Commission (1999) suggested that Lok Sabha and assembly elections shall be held at the same time.
• A mini-general election every alternate year could affect the functioning and polity of governments.
• The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law, and Justice (Sudarsana Natchiappan committee)-2015 noted that simultaneous elections would reduce:
  • Massive expenditure incurred for the conduct of separate elections
  • Policy paralysis due to imposition of the Model Code of Conduct during election period.
  • Impact on delivery of essential services.
  • Burden on crucial manpower deployed during election time.

Recommendations by the Law Commission (2018):

• Simultaneous elections could not be held within the existing framework of the Constitution.
• It could be held together through amendments to the Constitution, the Representation of the People Act 1951, and the Rules of Procedure of Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.
• At least 50% of the states should ratify the constitutional amendments.
• The no-confidence motion should be replaced with constructive vote of no-confidence through amendments- a government may only be removed if there is confidence in an alternative government.

Arguments against simultaneous elections:

• A nationwide exercise of elections leads to increased complexity.
• A nationally dominant party would be benefitted at the cost of regional parties.
• Collapse of governments before completion of their term would weaken state and central legislatures.

Challenges for simultaneous election:

Logistics:

• Arrangement of around 30 lakh electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines.
• The ECI submitted a feasibility report (2015) for amendments to the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act.
  • It sought more time for manufacture of voting machines.
• It would take about a year to manufacture 6-7 lakh EVMs, making the task of simultaneous polls in 2024 difficult.

Increased costs:

• Procurement of large-scale purchase of EVMs and VVPAT machines would cost Rs 9,284.15 crore.
  • The ECI delivers the cheapest election in the world- one dollar, one vote.
• Replacement of machines is to be done every 15 years which would entail expenditure.
  • If there are simultaneous polls, EVMs would be used for three elections.
• Storage of the machines increases warehousing costs.
• A total of Rs 5,814.29 crore were assigned between 2014-19 for holding elections.

Central forces, poll staff:

• Deployment of central forces around the country at the same time to maintain law and order is an issue.
• The movement of the forces and polling parties is another issue that must be addressed.

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