10 December 2024 : Daily Answer Writing

MAINS MODEL QUESTION: 10^th DECEMBER 2024

Q1) Do you think that Simultaneous Election militates against the very idea of federalism or is it an idea whose time has come again? Examine in the light of the recommendations made by the Ram Nath Kovind committee.

(250 Words/15 Marks)

Solution:

Simultaneous elections mean, elections to the Lok Sabha polls and State Legislative Assembly polls will be synchronized and will be held together.

Arguments in favour of simultaneous elections:

1. Resource efficiency: (a) reduces substantial election expenditure to the exchequer (b) security staff and polling staff can work efficiently on their domain. Ex: teachers working as poll staff. (c) money spent on election expenses can be used for other public causes.
2. Reduced corrupt practices: (a) reduces the frequency of money and muscle power at display in elections. (b) ECI can better regulate MCC (c) divisive politics giving call to religion, caste and language will reduce.
3. Administrative efficiency – (a) politicians can better focus on better governance rather than being on a perpetual campaign mode. (b) Governments will be able to take politically difficult decisions which go beyond mere appeasement to voters (c) officials involved in election duty can focus on their respective departments.
4. Will de-politicise Centre State relations and bring in stability and continuity in governance.
5. Voter engagement – (a) voter fatigue will reduce (b) will see an increase in voter turnout.

However, Simultaneous elections may weaken federalism because:

1. Simultaneous elections lead to national issues high jacking the local or regional political discourse and electoral agendas, thus capturing the attention of media. This will lead to a centralized political environment
2. Will reduce state autonomy because states will feel pressurized to align their issues with the Central issues
3. Regional parties will be sidelined or lose relevance because voters tend to vote for national parties which seek votes on national issues; Also, since national parties have more money power, they will be able to sideline the regional parties.
4. It might tend hamper constitutional federalism and tilt the balance of power more towards the Centre. States will lose even the authority to determine their electoral schedules
5. To extend or terminate the terms of States require amendment to Article 172. An amendment here requires the ratification of half the states. This might lead to potential conflict between Centre and states.

Way forward as per the recommendations of the Ramnath Kovind Committee:

1. Two step approach to simultaneous elections – (a) first step, elections to the Lok Sabha and Stale Legislative Assemblies need to be synchronized (b) then Local body elections and Stale Legislative Assembly election need to be synchronized.
2. Mode of conducting the elections – (a)The first sitting of the Lok Sabha after a General Election should be the cut-off date. This date should be designated as appointed date for synchronization of elections. (b)Once the appointed date is fixed, the tenure of state legislative assemblies should end, preparing them for fresh elections.
3. Amending the constitution. (a) Article 324: to synchronize local body elections with Lok Sabha elections (b) Article 325 for a Single Electoral Roll and Single Photo Identity Card.
4. Incase of hung house or no – confidence motion, fresh elections for the remainder of term.

However, at the core of democracy lies the idea of debating for the best interest of the nation. Thus, before perishing the idea or any hurried implementation, the idea is worth deliberating upon.