Simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly elections would benefit national parties but dwarf the role of smaller regional ones which is not a good sign for a healthy democracy, according to experts.
"Whether one acknowledges it or not, the wave factor associated with big political leaders and parties does affect the outcome in state polls. And, therefore simultaneous elections would benefit national parties, and small regional parties' fate will be difficult.
"As a diverse country with a federal structure, the idea of holding simultaneous polls somewhat does not bode well. The presence of small parties is a manifestation of the democracy that we are, which allows voters the option to choose from," former Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi said.
He was speaking last evening at a panel discussion on 'Simultaneous Elections - Possibilities and Challenges' organised by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) here.
Director at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) Sanjay Kumar also said, "Elections held simultaneously are likely to benefit more the big national parties, and the role of small regional parties will be suppressed."
BJP has been of the view that there should be combined elections from panchayat to Parliament, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also keen on simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.
President Pranab Mukherjee has also articulated that such a system could ensure political and administrative stability, as frequent elections disrupt regular functioning of the government, and that political parties could collectively take a decision on the issue.
The panelists at the event yesterday were largely of the view that "staggered" format of electoral exercise was in favour of the federal structure, and if at all the proposition of simultaneous elections is to be considered, an "all-party consensus" should be reached first.
BJP has held that state elections coupled with local-level polls, spread across virtually every year, often "hinder" the execution of welfare measures, and Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu has said that India can pursue 'one nation, one election' model.
Quraishi said having simultaneous election would also increase the logistical burden, starting with the massive number of EVM machines needed, and will cost the exchequer.
Another panelist, BJP Rajya Sabha member Bhupender Yadav said that instead of 'one-nation one-election', the model should be "one-nation and systematic scheduled polls" to bring an order in the process.
Quraishi, however, said that due to frequent polls,
"people and politicians are always in election mode. And, you see, communal matters being raked up, from 'love jihad' to 'cow slaughter' in the past, and the issues later subside.
"So, if there are less elections, both people and parties wouldn't talk about communal issues as much as they do now."
The idea of simultaneous polls hasn't been thought through and several aspects have to deliberated and weighed in, he said.
To counter the instability factor, the President and co-founder of PRS Legislative Research, M R Madhavan, proposed the German model of moving "both a no-confidence motion and a confidence motion."
"If an alliance party suddenly decides to withdraw support as happened in Delhi Assembly polls 2013, why shouldn't the confidence motion be tested before going for fresh polls," he asked.
"Besides, a broad consensus must be reached by all parties over the idea of simultaneous polls, as in the GST case," he said.
Majority of panelists also agreed that while one-time elections may make the job of Election Commission and the administration easier, the role of regional parties is necessary for sustaining the federal structure.
These small entities would otherwise be practically "wiped out" in simultaneous polls, they said.
Quraishi, when asked which state is the most difficult to hold elections in, said, "There are different states, and each of them presents its own set of challenges. So, Bihar, West Bengal and Manipur, I would say are very difficult to conduct polls in... UP is not so difficult."
"From law and order issues to Maoist-affected areas, we have to deal with several challenges in different states," he said.
First general elections after Independence were held in 1952. And, from thereon to 1957, 1962 and 1967, polls were a joint affair.
The government on its website MyGov.Com, had earlier also sought views of "all interested people", including common citizens, MPs, MLAs, MLCs, constitutional experts, academics experts and bureaucrats on the idea of holding simultaneous elections.
Several structural changes will need to be done in case a decision is made to conduct simultaneous election, including possibility of Constitutional amendments to streamline the process.
