Parthasarathy Sen
This refers to your well argued editorial “Are simultaneous Lok Sabha, Assembly polls a possibility? ” (April 5). With exactly two years left for the general elections 2019, the issue of holding central and assembly polls together or allowing the existing procedure to continue has to be resolved by the Government taking into consideration the merits and demerits on both sides and elicit varying views of the opposition and citizen feelings. The Election Commission of India has also to be approached for their considered views and feasibility.
The existing system of holding elections separately is a long time consuming affair with scarce financial resources and governance at default (with the code of conduct),these could be remedied through holding elections at the Centre and in the States simultaneously. But then before switching over to the new system we have to fix a time period, which may not be an easy task since many state assemblies have already been in motion before the specified date to go together. On the other hand simultaneous polls would have an advantage for the ruling party at the centre. We must not forget that the electoral battles for the centre and the states are fought on different issues, states have local issues and for the center prominent issues. For example, the recent ban order of the Supreme Court on liquor outlets on highways will affect Goa robbing of its business and peoples’ livelihood and this is peculiarly the state’s problem, not that of the center. Our beautiful country is a nation of heterogeneity and differences and every state is a singular pearl creating the necklace of a united India. After the present dispensation has come to power at the centre, we are witnessing imposition of greater uniformity and hegemony, which in the long run may pose a problem to democracy and the democratic values, also which alone can keep the flock together.
Admittedly the present system may have its drawbacks but it gives equal power to all political parties, big or small to prove its credibility upon the people and their aspirations and this would be lost once uniformity is imposed by holding elections simultaneously.
