Questioning the feasibility of simultaneous election ?
Elections in India is like a festival. They hold extreme significance in a democratic setup. May it be Panchayat election, Municipal Elections or even any state or general election, enthusiasm flows among people. From tea points to cabinet rooms, political discussion takes place everywhere. This discussion is almost present every time due to some election or the other happening in some part of the country for sure.
The idea of 'One Nation One Election' might change this trend but at the same time raises questions over feasibility, compatibility and practical aspect of this idea.
Prime Minister Modi and his government in power have boosted up this idea in the last few weeks. Their argument to this 'not so simple' Idea has been that the frequent elections result in a great financial burden on the exchequer of our country. NITI Aayog recently supported their chairman's Idea by arguing that uniform calendar on elections for the centre, state and panchayat raj elections would help in saving money, administrative expense and avoid 'policy numbness'. This argument lacks effectiveness with major counter argument like practicality as a major deterrent in the process. Given that we are a Westminster style of Federal political Union, simultaneous elections runs against the philosophy of this style. 'India that is Bharat shall be a union of state'- these words of the Indian Constitution is the most important hurdle in this process of shifting from multiple election to simultaneous election.
The idea that it puts heavy burden on the exchequer is a very floating idea. It sinks by a strong wave of feasibility argument. In our country, a state with the population of more than 20 crore has its election in 7 phases because different phases enable proper administration and avoid malfunctioning. In such a paradigm holding elections at all the three stages of government is highly incompatible and gives rise to political debates.
The type of parliamentary democracy we live in, it is not practical that all the states and union territories along with the centre complete their term together. State legislature collapse due to majority failure, the power of Article 356 to impose president rule in the state are the reasons why simultaneous elections are not incompatible. Suppose a state government falls after 1 year of the simultaneous elections, it is not prudent to think that the state will be under president rule till the time next elections are held . It is not democratic to prepone and postpone the term of legislative assemblies as the centre has no right to do so arbitrarily. This can be done only when the major political parties also accept the idea of simultaneous election as proposed by EC.
Therefore, PM should drop the idea of simultaneous elections as no longer the saffron wave is sailing across India especially after the recent lose in three major states. The idea of ' one nation one election' is a bizarre idea that can lead to political disaster in our country. Just an argument of expenditure or the abstaining of goverment functioning due to code of conduct are not valid enough to conduct such an experiment which can burn the whole lab. Therefore the idea of 'one nation one election' is a farce.
The idea of 'One Nation One Election' might change this trend but at the same time raises questions over feasibility, compatibility and practical aspect of this idea.
Prime Minister Modi and his government in power have boosted up this idea in the last few weeks. Their argument to this 'not so simple' Idea has been that the frequent elections result in a great financial burden on the exchequer of our country. NITI Aayog recently supported their chairman's Idea by arguing that uniform calendar on elections for the centre, state and panchayat raj elections would help in saving money, administrative expense and avoid 'policy numbness'. This argument lacks effectiveness with major counter argument like practicality as a major deterrent in the process. Given that we are a Westminster style of Federal political Union, simultaneous elections runs against the philosophy of this style. 'India that is Bharat shall be a union of state'- these words of the Indian Constitution is the most important hurdle in this process of shifting from multiple election to simultaneous election.
The idea that it puts heavy burden on the exchequer is a very floating idea. It sinks by a strong wave of feasibility argument. In our country, a state with the population of more than 20 crore has its election in 7 phases because different phases enable proper administration and avoid malfunctioning. In such a paradigm holding elections at all the three stages of government is highly incompatible and gives rise to political debates.
The type of parliamentary democracy we live in, it is not practical that all the states and union territories along with the centre complete their term together. State legislature collapse due to majority failure, the power of Article 356 to impose president rule in the state are the reasons why simultaneous elections are not incompatible. Suppose a state government falls after 1 year of the simultaneous elections, it is not prudent to think that the state will be under president rule till the time next elections are held . It is not democratic to prepone and postpone the term of legislative assemblies as the centre has no right to do so arbitrarily. This can be done only when the major political parties also accept the idea of simultaneous election as proposed by EC.
Therefore, PM should drop the idea of simultaneous elections as no longer the saffron wave is sailing across India especially after the recent lose in three major states. The idea of ' one nation one election' is a bizarre idea that can lead to political disaster in our country. Just an argument of expenditure or the abstaining of goverment functioning due to code of conduct are not valid enough to conduct such an experiment which can burn the whole lab. Therefore the idea of 'one nation one election' is a farce.
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