The election came as a festival in our country and starts with Big rallies, the flow of lots of money, Netas lending from choppers, E.C seizing huge money etc .. and this festival is always there in some or other part of our country.
But what about holding election simultaneously of Lok Sabha and Vidhan sabha.This reform has lots of advantages but powerful challenges too.
Niti Aayog prepared a discussion paper for as such system but for this tenure of some state, assemblies required extension or reduction of other. Aayog also stresses that frequent elections affect policy making as the government gives priority to “short-sighted populist measures”.
While Election commission in respond for first time opined that this led to the huge reduction in election expenditure and officers in charge of maintaining code and conduct would be less affected as well political party would more concentrate on working rather than elections.
independent India saw its first General election in 1951-52. when all Lok Sabha as well state assemblies went to election simultaneously and this continues for next 3 elections but the cycle got disturbed when some state assemblies dissolved before its tenure end and so happened in Lok Sabha.
when looking at its challenges for Simultaneous election, which requires as much EVM’s & VDAT machines and purchase of this would be in 10,000 crores only. The second challenge is to space government’s primary schools used for polling. While PM suggestion for local bodies in the same schedule is a tough challenge.
Looking to its implementation aspects Lok Sabha polls would be in 2019, while some state assemblies are going to polls in 2017.
So, Either the term would be of mere two years otherwise for seven years and what if Government loses its majority in the midterm?
If there would be the fresh election for completing the term whole process would nullify the entire exercise.
There is the suggestion that Lok Sabha & state assembly should have a fixed 5 years tenure not subjected to early dissolution irrespective of government losing majority.
while there is need of reform in Rajya sabha as now, no longer one-third member retired every two years this also need to restore.
while India is digitalising and moving towards the cashless economy in between it Aayog should also move out of the conventional way of voting by e-Voting (through phones), linking Aaddhar cards.
