18 SEP 2024
Simultaneous Elections in India: Recommendations from the High-Level Committee
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has accepted the recommendations provided by the High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections, which was led by former President Shri Ram Nath Kovind. This significant decision marks a pivotal moment in Indian politics as it emphasizes the government’s commitment to streamline the electoral process across the nation. The recommendations aim to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of elections, ensuring that both state and national polls are conducted simultaneously. This strategic approach is expected to not only reduce the financial burden associated with frequent elections but also to minimize disruptions in governance and development activities, fostering a more stable political environment. Stakeholders from various sectors are keenly observing the implementation of these recommendations, as their success could potentially reshape the democratic landscape of India.
Background on Simultaneous Elections
Elections in India were previously held simultaneously between 1951 and 1967. The topic of conducting elections concurrently has gained attention through various reports:
- Law Commission’s 170th Report (1999): Proposed that one election be conducted for the Lok Sabha and all Legislative Assemblies every five years.
- Parliamentary Committee’s 79th Report (2015): Suggested methods to implement simultaneous elections in two phases.
The High-Level Committee, chaired by Shri Ram Nath Kovind, engaged in extensive consultations with a diverse range of stakeholders, including political parties and experts from various fields, ensuring that every relevant viewpoint was considered. The discussions were marked by a robust exchange of ideas, as representatives shared their insights and experiences regarding the electoral process in India. This collaborative approach aimed to gather a broad spectrum of opinions on the advantages and challenges of simultaneous elections. The detailed report summarizing these dialogues can be accessed online at [onoe.gov.in], where interested individuals can also find supplementary materials and analyses related to the topic. Feedback from these discussions indicated a significant level of public support for the idea of simultaneous elections across the country, reflecting a growing consensus among various social and political groups about the potential benefits of such a system in enhancing governance and streamlining electoral processes.
Recommendations and Way Forward
The committee has outlined a phased approach to implementing simultaneous elections:
- First Phase: Conduct Lok Sabha and Assembly elections simultaneously to ensure a more streamlined electoral process, minimize the costs associated with separate elections, and enhance voter participation and engagement across all demographics, thereby fostering a more efficient and robust democratic process.
- Second Phase: Hold local body elections (panchayat and municipalities) within 100 days of the general elections.
- Establish a common electoral roll for all elections.
- Initiate detailed discussions across the country to garner further insights and support.
- Constitute an implementation group to oversee the execution of these recommendations.
Terms of Reference for the High-Level Committee were as below:
(a) examine and make recommendation for holding simultaneous elections to the House of the People (Lok Sabha), State Legislative Assemblies, Municipalities and Panchayats, keeping in view the existing framework under the Constitution of India and other statutory provisions, and for that purpose, examine and recommend specific amendments to the Constitution, the Representation of the People Act, 1950, the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and the rules made thereunder and any other law or rules which would require amendments for the purpose of holding simultaneous elections;
(b) examine and recommend, if the amendments to the Constitution would require ratification by the States;
(c) analyse and recommend possible solution in a scenario of simultaneous elections emerging out of hung House, adoption of no-confidence motion, or defection or any such other event;
(d) suggest a framework for synchronisation of elections and specifically, suggest the phases and time frame within which simultaneous elections may be held if they cannot be held in one go and also suggest any amendments to the Constitution and other laws in this regard and propose such rules that may be required in such circumstances;
(e) recommend necessary safeguards for ensuring the continuity of the cycle of simultaneous elections and recommend necessary amendments to the Constitution, so that the cycle of simultaneous elections is not disturbed;
(f) examine the logistics and manpower required, including EVMs, VVPATs, etc., for holding such simultaneous elections;
(g) examine and recommend the modalities of use of a single electoral roll and electoral identity cards for identification of voters in elections to the House of the People (Lok Sabha), State Legislative Assemblies, Municipalities and Panchayats.
The report, comprising an impressive 18,626 pages, is a significant outcome of extensive consultations with a diverse array of stakeholders, including industry leaders, community representatives, and academic experts. This comprehensive document reflects meticulous research work conducted over a span of 191 days, which began with the constitution of the High-Level Committee on September 2, 2023. Throughout this period, the committee engaged in numerous meetings, discussions, and workshops aimed at gathering valuable insights, opinions, and data to ensure a thorough analysis of the issues at hand.