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.
I greet our Hon'ble Prime Minister Modiji A HAPPY BIRTHDAY.Yes, it is a very good idea to hold simultaneous elections both to the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies simultaneously as it will save crores of rupees to the already poor country, where millions of people are deprived of proper food, clothing & housing. By-elections to a few seats here & there is ok,losing of majority & conducting re-elections has to be avoided by imposing president's rule till the term of the house completes
Simultaneous Elections are must now, to save money , time , manpower. All needs to work for the betterment of life of common man. Hope it will be implemented at the earliest
We are residing in a big state i.e. U.P. but also having my home at Vadodara and all relatives in Gujarat,I am able to understand both the states,So I am giving some suggestions for the development of our country , which is not possible without doing development in U.P. .In State U.P. and in central , same goverment must be there for doing work and development.
For U.P. elections and also for the development of our country and for the victory of BJP in U.P., finally I am giving some suggestions , to our Party workers and leaders . Please read and arrange for this if you realy interested for the big victory of BJP in U.P. . U.P. is very big state and without this it is very difficult to work for the development of country. I resides in U.P. but being a Gujarati family I know about local issues which give satisfaction to all ,in U.P. as well as Gujarat.
Kaaam tabhi to kar sakenge jab satta me honge. jab defeat ho jaayegi , jo ki dikh raha hai , to phir kaaam kaise karenge. Samay rahte nai sudhrenge to result hame mil jaayege. These are very cruel words but actuality. Kahte hain na ki SAMAY RAHTE NAI SUDHRENGE TO SAMAY HAME SUDHAAR DEGA. I request all leaders to come in their area more and more and do some work atleast to satisfy the people by their work and development.
Sir, I am very happy to say that our PM Sri Modi ji is doing his work in very very energetic and appreiciable way , this I am not saying these are the words of people from every part of our country includinig U.P. also.But it is also true that BJP leaders are not in contact with the persons of their area and they are not performing upto the mark where to satisfy the people. When there will be defeat of BJP in U.P. then what is advantage of being very active and having so many qualities in them.
It is urgent to write and tell about the situation of U.P.as elections are very near but without any appreciable work some leaders are going to take advantages of other opposition party leader's attitudes of not doing work.
I am surprised that why all BJP leaders have left this important State U.P. without any work . I am not saying that zero work has been done in this state. But it is also true that here leaders are not performing their role good. They are out of contact of people . Internal condition for BJP is not good in this state as people are happy with working of BJP in U.P. . Samaz waadi party has also not done any work but they are going to take advantage of no work by BJP leaders in this state.
Mujhe ye kahna pad raha hai kyoki , realy present government has only plannings if they won and come back .And people are not understanding this. Jab kisi ko baar baar galat suchna bhi milti jaayegi to ye to natural hai ki yakeen hone ki shuruaaat hone lagti hai. Issi formulae ko shayad local yaha ke newspapers bhi apply kar rahe hain. U.P. election are very important from the progress point of view of our country. So no one should take this election in light. Samay rahte kuch nai kiya to kya?
Ye to bahot galat ho raha hai bhaai, ki kisi ko walk over mil jaane ki ummeed ho jaaye , kyoki U.P. BJP leaders ne bhi kaam dikhaya hi nai apna. Pata nai saare U.P. BJP leaders hain kaha? Koi bhi apne region me aata hi nai kabhi? Akele Modi ji kaise kaam karenge jab baaki log support hi nai karenge. Hamare PM to apna kaaam bahot hi sundar kar rahe hain . Every one have desire this PM upto atleast 20 years more. But where are other BJP leaders in U.P. who are very senior leaders of his state.
