SIMULTANEOUS ELECTION

IN NEWS :

In an Independence Day speech, the Prime Minister renewed his push for simultaneous elections, targeting implementation by the 2029 polls.

Pros of One Nation, One Election:

  • Cost Reduction: It can decrease the deployment of resources such as EVMs, security personnel, and election management teams to only one time in 5 years.

  • Continuity in Governance: Simultaneous elections can prevent the frequent imposition of the Model Code of Conduct, which disrupts government development activities and decision-making processes.

  • Reduced Election Fatigue: Voters, political parties, and the administration could benefit from reduced election fatigue, allowing them to focus more on governance and development.

  • Uniformity in Policy Implementation: Central and state governments can work in sync on policy implementation without the hindrance of upcoming elections in various states.

Cons of One Nation, One Election:

  • Constitutional Challenges: The implementation of simultaneous elections would require significant amendments to the Constitution, particularly Articles 83, 85, 172, and 174, which deal with the duration of legislative bodies.

  • Federalism Concerns: Opponents argue that simultaneous elections could undermine the federal structure of India, marginalizing regional parties and giving dominance to national parties.

  • Voter Disengagement: The synchronization of elections might lead to voter disengagement due to the overwhelming nature of combined elections, where national issues may overshadow regional ones.

Ram Nath Committee recommendation :

The High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections, chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, proposed several key recommendations aimed for synchronizing elections in India across the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies. 

  • Amendment to Article 82A: The President would be allowed to set an ‘Appointed Date’ to initiate simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies.

  • Term Synchronization: States with elections between June 2024 and May 2029 will adjust their terms to end with the 18th Lok Sabha, enabling the first simultaneous elections in 2029.

  • Premature Dissolution Measures: In case of early dissolution of Parliament or a state assembly, fresh elections would only be held for the remaining term until the next scheduled simultaneous elections.

  • Synchronization of Local Body Elections: Legislation would be passed by Parliament to align municipal and panchayat elections with the General Elections within 100 days.

  • Single Electoral Roll: A unified electoral roll for all levels of government is proposed, which would require an amendment to Article 325. This would eliminate redundancy in voter registration.

  • Logistical Arrangements: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is tasked with creating detailed logistical and expenditure plans for simultaneous elections, in coordination with State Election Commissions (SECs).

 
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Devender Pal
Devender Pal
25 days ago

Great points in a simple manner that helps in essay writing too 🤠

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