Issues in poll reform

The debate on simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies has once again picked up pace following the Election Commission’s declaration that it is logistically possible to conduct such an exercise. The most critical questions pertaining to the debate, however, have less to do with logistics but political necessity, Constitutional validity and, indeed, multi-party democracy.

The ruling BJP has always been a vocal proponent of the move and the Prime Minister is pushing it with characteristic vigour. NITI Aayog has made it an important item of its three-year action agenda report. It has also found favour from various Parliamentary panels and the Law Commission on obvious grounds of reduction of expenditure, curtailing imposition of the Model Code of Conduct, minimising disruption of normal public life and lessening pressure on crucial manpower deployed for prolonged periods in poll-bound States. All these arguments, however, pertain to logistics and expenses. The more important questions are — can fractured verdicts and unstable governments be avoided altogether in a multi-party democracy like India? Second, holding simultaneous elections is certain to influence voter behaviour in such a manner as to tilt the polls in favour of national issues and national parties. This could marginalise issues pertaining to States and regional parties. Most importantly, are State Assemblies, whose tenure is not coterminous with the Lok Sabha’s, to be dissolved prematurely or extended? A conjoint reading of Articles 83(2) and 172(1) of the Constitution makes it clear that the tenure of the Lok Sabha and the State Assemblies cannot be extended beyond five years except in the case of proclamation of emergency. Nor, for that matter, is the early dissolution of Assemblies desirable through proclamation of President’s Rule under Article 356. Another important proposal is any no-confidence motion against a government ought to include a confidence motion in favour of an alternative government to be headed by a named individual.

All these measures require political consensus which has so far not been reached. The Congress, Left, TMC and the NCP have termed the move “impractical... and leading to a scenario where the necessary balance in Indian democracy given the diversity of the country is lost”. Clearly, this is too critical and nuanced an issue to be forced through the strength of numbers in Parliament. The BJP must strive to evolve a consensus. Polls may be cumbersome or expensive, but any attempt at reforms must be weighed against whether they strengthen or erode democratic rights.

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