Simultaneous Elections
We often hear the simultaneous election in news, but what is it? Why is it important to have simultaneous elections? What are the draw - back of simultaneous elections? In this article we are going to understand that.
What is simultaneous election?
Simultaneous election, in simple words means to have all the elections at the same time. But what is in Indian Context? How will it impact? To understand it- the first you need to understand the elections in India.
As you must know that India is divided in 29 states, and these 29 states make one big country which is India.
So, there are two important government in India- The first is Central Government, and another is the state government. The central government serves the country, and look after India- as country.
India has two government forming direct election- first- when entire nation
votes including citizens of all states and decide a leader for the Prime
Minister of India. This election is called as ‘Lok Sabha Election’ or
the ‘House of the People’s election’ or ‘Election for the lower house’. Elected
members are called as MP or Member of Parliament.
Second type of elections happen in
states at different time to elect a Chief Minister of the State. These
elections are not conducted nationwide at a time. Every state has different
time, and different ruling parties- That is how chief minister is elected.
These are direct elections, and are called as elections of Vidhan
sabha or election of Legistlative assembly. The elected candidates are called
as MLA.
What is the issue at present? - Simultaneous Elections
The ruling party, which is NDA led BJP is pushing for
simultaneous election. While opposition political parties like congress is
strongly against it.
What does the Election commission say?
Election commission is a constitutional body which conducts the election. It also says that holding these both elections
together – That means Vidhan Sabha and Lok sabha in year 2019 is impossible.
The VVPAT machines are unavailable, and without VVPAT, EVM
machines are often accused for conducting a fraudulent election.
A history of Simultaneous Election- The
first four election during 1952 to 11967 ( 1952, 1957, 1962 and 1967) were simultaneous
elections.
Congress suffered huge defeat in 7
states, under leadership of Indira Gandhi that is when the idea of simultaneous
election was rejected.
Benefits of simultaneous
election-
1.
Huge
money is wasted in different elections as party campaigns and cost of
conducting election every time.
2.
People
don’t take elections seriously due to its occurrence every after three months
which includes, Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, Gram Panchayat, and Municipality one
after another.
3.
Political
leaders will focus more on progressive work because election campaign will not
be burdening them.
4. Parliamentary standing committee also recommended
that simultaneous election are beneficial for India as it will reduce the cost associated with multiple elections.
5. To overcome policy paralysis associated with imposition of Model
Code of Conduct during elections.
6. To limit the disruption of normal public life in the run-up to
and during the elections.
7.
To free up the manpower
of the armed and para-military forces deployed on election duties.
Federal structure will be
hampered- As opposition has
kept it that simultaneous election will temper with federal structure of the
elections.
To implement the simultaneous election,
the state government who recently has won election would have to end their term
If Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections
are held together the
national interest will prevail and state interest would be
neglected.
Conclusion - Overall, two points can
be made. One, a dominant position at the Centre may translate into
corresponding gains at the state level. Two, every state has its own power
dynamics, and like earlier even if there were simultaneous elections up to 1967
yet the Congress Party lost elections even if it was the only national party.
However, the organs like
election commission, their opinion about why not to conduct simultaneous
election must be considered because it will be a technical failure.
