1. The idea of reverting to simultaneous polls was mooted in the annual report of the Election Commission in 1983. The Law Commission’s Report also referred to it in 1999. The recent push came ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in the BJP manifesto. After Mr. Modi floated the idea once again in 2016, the Niti Aayog prepared a working paper on the subject in January 2017. In the working paper that the Law Commission brought out in April 2018, it said that at least “five Constitutional recommendations” would be required to get this off the ground. The final decision on holding simultaneous elections is yet to be taken. 2. This concept ( SIMULTANEOUS ELECTION ) is not alien to our country as the first election after enforcement of constitution in 1952 was conducted simultaneously, and later the elections of 1952, 1957 and 1962 were also the same. The liquidation of fourth Lok Sabha brought an end to the process. Premature dissolutions and extensions of Lok Sabha and various state assemblies in past 40 years have ended the cycle of simultaneous elections. Within 15 years of the newly-formed democracy and establishment of an electoral system in India, the process automatically dissolved. 3. Our constitution is structured in a way that promotes simultaneous elections. Provisions for tenure of five years from the date of first sitting of Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies is mentioned under Article 83 (2) and 170 (1) respectively. Article 356 comes as an exception in case of dissolution or failure of constitutional machinery of a state.
OPINION : 21/06/2019 : 1832. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUB : 1. The idea of reverting to simultaneous polls was mooted in the annual report of the Election Commission in 1983. The Law Commission’s Report also referred to it in 1999. The recent push came ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in the BJP manifesto. After Mr. Modi floated the idea once again in 2016, the Niti Aayog prepared a working paper on the subject in January 2017. In the working paper that the Law Commission brought out in April 2018, it said that at least “five Constitutional recommendations” would be required to get this off the ground. The final decision on holding simultaneous elections is yet to be taken. 2. This concept ( SIMULTANEOUS ELECTION ) is not alien to our country as the first election after enforcement of constitution in 1952 was conducted simultaneously, and later the elections...
