| Syllabus: GS-II, Subject: Polity, Topic: Elections and RPA, Issue: Election reforms |
Context:
- The High-Level Committee on “One nation One election” suggested conducting simultaneous parliamentary and state legislative assembly elections.
Benefits of simultaneous elections:
- Leads to significant savings on administrative expenditure.
- Enable efficient utilization of manpower, including election officials and security personnel.
- Public life experiences less disruption
- Governance receives long-term focus, reducing obstruction to developmental programs.
- Political leaders can prioritize governance, enhancing public accountability over electioneering.
Conclusion:
- Discontinuation of simultaneous elections since 1967 was due to arbitrary use of Article 356 to topple elected governments.
- Successive governments lacked the political will to restore simultaneous elections.
- Simultaneous elections are crucial for democratic, economic, and political progress.
- Efforts towards holding simultaneous elections are hoped to yield positive results for India’s greater benefit.
