Simultaneous Elections: An Anti-Federal Idea

• The Union government has accepted the recommendations of a high-level committee, led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, for simultaneous Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections.
• The government needs to pass constitutional amendments in Parliament and State Assemblies to implement the scheme.
• The proposal aims to reduce costs of conducting these elections and prevent political parties from continuing in prolonged campaign mode.
• The committee’s recommendations include a provision that if a State Assembly is dissolved before five years of its term, fresh “midterm” elections will be held, but the new Assembly’s tenure will end five years from the “appointed date.”
• This provision contradicts the original idea of cost-cutting through simultaneous elections and is anti-federal.
• The multi-tiered governance system allows for distinct roles for each representative and varied voter choices.
• The proposal to hold polls to every tier during the same period is problematic as it centralizes party tendencies and reduces the importance of each tier.
• The proposal will also shorten the tenures of several State governments.