New Delhi (Agency): In a move to streamline the election process in India, the Election Commission (EC) has put forth several proposals concerning the simultaneous holding of elections for the Lok Sabha and all state assemblies. These proposals include significant amendments to the Constitution and have implications for how political stability is maintained in the country.
One of the key suggestions made by the EC is that any ‘no-confidence motion’ against the government should be coupled with a ‘confidence motion’ in favor of a proposed next prime minister or chief minister. This dual-motion system aims to prevent the premature dissolution of the House. Both motions would be voted on together, and the EC believes this would help maintain political stability.
The EC also clarified that the term of the Lok Sabha should start and end on predetermined dates. It emphasized that any mid-term elections conducted should be only for the remainder of the term. “If the remainder of the term is not long, there could be a provision for the President to carry out the administration of the country,” the EC stated. Similar provisions were suggested for state legislative assemblies.
The department-related standing committee on law and personnel, which produced a report on the feasibility of holding simultaneous elections, cited these suggestions from the EC. They mentioned that initially, terms for existing legislative assemblies may need to be extended or shortened to align with the Lok Sabha elections.
The EC also offered alternative arrangements, such as fixing two windows of one-and-a-half months each for holding all by-elections due in a particular year. Another proposal was to conduct all elections falling due in a particular period of the year together.
However, the EC did not shy away from highlighting the difficulties associated with these suggestions. It pointed out that conducting simultaneous elections would require a large-scale purchase of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines. The estimated cost for procuring these machines is around Rs 9284.15 crore. Additionally, these machines would need to be replaced every 15 years, adding further costs. “Storing these machines would increase the warehousing cost,” the standing committee noted, citing the EC’s input.
While the EC’s proposals bring forth innovative solutions for streamlining the election process and maintaining political stability, they also come with substantial financial and logistical challenges. As the conversation around simultaneous elections gains momentum, these factors will play a significant role in determining the feasibility and implementation of such a system.