Debate on Simultaneous polls - Early Times Newspaper Jammu Kashmir

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Debate on Simultaneous polls

Omkar Dattatray

6/28/2018 9:56:26 PM

Democracy is meaningless proposition without elections. A democracy cannot be imagined sans elections. It is said that elections are the breath and soul of a democracy. But it does not construe that democracy is elections and elections only. Elections are means to form a representative government in a parliamentary democracy while the end is good, efficient and transparent governance. The sorry state of affairs is that Indian democracy has been reduced to electioneering and electioneering only. The frequent elections on daily basis have eroded the credibility of our democracy and its functioning. Therefore it is imperative to consider the case of one time simultaneous elections to central parliament i.e Lok Sabha and the state legislatures, i.e Vidhan Sabhas. It becomes imperative from the security point of view and from the view point of political stability and governmental stability. Frequent elections are akin to 24 X 365 electoral battle games series. The time has come that the nation moves to one time simultaneous elections as frequent and continuous elections disrupts the governance and also creates national security problems. Thus holding simultaneous elections is of far reaching importance when viewed from national security interests that will consolidate and advance national security based on the social harmony and peace. Political leaders and the parties like the frequent elections to continue for the sake of remaining in news and limelight both in power and out of power. It implies that without elections they will be like a fish out of water. Thus round the year elections should now be given a good bye and a purposeful and constructive debate should be initiated by all concerned for one time simultaneous elections which will further the cause of good governance and will also lead to much needed political stability. Our PM Modi is a strong votary of holding simultaneous elections. He has expressed his view of considering the holding of simultaneous elections on the Law day on November 25, 2017. It is very unfortunate that the congress party for the sake of criticism was quick to oppose this view of Prime Minister. This important matter of national importance should not be made a subject of cheap politics but a genuine and constructive debate should be held in the country to pave a way for one time simultaneous polls which is in the national interest. The people of India should wake up and deliver a knockout blow to all those who favour current round the clock 24 X 365 election battle series. Frequent and continuous elections or round the year elections affect our system of governance and it erodes the credibility of our governance system. So good governance is the first casualty of frequent elections. Besides governance, frequent and round the year elections affect the political stability and the government stability and leads to malfunctioning of the government. Besides this, 24 X 365 elections series affects the continuity of the government. Therefore it is time that the constitutional experts, legal luminaries, academicians, politicians and general public at large should consider holding of one time simultaneous elections. The frequent and continuous elections results in disrupted and destructive parliament sessions and slanderous election campaigning. In fact such a never ending vicious politics in the name of democracy is detrimental to the maintenance of peace and order as well as harmony vital for the progress and prosperity besides national security. Being absorbed in frequent elections the elected representatives are locked in acrimonious verbal duels which maligns one another and in the process good governance is the casualty. The media houses are susceptible to heinous crime in present day India. Breaking news syndrome and sensationalism of 24 X 365 election series provide oxygen to sustain their relevance and TRP value. The media houses as opinion makers, builders and consolidators should sink their rivalries cutting across their partisan affiliations with various political parties and champion the cause of holding a simultaneous election. It is ironical and paradoxical that constitutional experts, law Ministry, elections commissions have advanced their views for continuing of holding round the year elections. Some opine that biggest challenge in holding simultaneous elections is the need for major constitutional amendment particularly the vexed issue of the Tenth schedule containing the anti defection law which cannot be made redundant to give parliament or assemblies a fixed full term. Others are of the opinion that holding simultaneous polls would cost a lot of money to the government and would be a huge exercise involving an overhaul of elections commissions and the requirement of three to four times increase of EVMs. But the fact is that the cost of conducting round the year and frequent elections far outweigh expenditures that may be incurred in conducting simultaneous elections. Because of frequent elections complete government machinery gets pre-occupied with the conduct of elections besides the deployment of military and security forces which leads to an enormous cost to the country men. It is very difficult to provide political stability and stable governments which are so important for providing effective and good governance. Frequent elections besides affecting good governance also creates national security hazards which is of great concern to the nation. Commission after commission has been appointed to suggest the electoral reform but they have suggested introduction of EVM's, voter Identity cards and holding elections in phases to ensure fool proof security. The reforms thus are peripheral and do not address the fundamental issues. Until and unless the basic issues are addressed squarely without prevarication, the representative parliamentary democracy in its existing form may not deliver goods. It hints towards revisiting of the parliamentary system. The dust and din of frequent elections has eroded the democratic system of its sheen and has badly affected the governance syndrome. The frequent and untimely elections round the year are no sign of the vibrancy and strength of our democracy but it hints towards malfunctioning of our democracy. The frequent and 24 X 365 election series affects the political stability of the country and damages the prospectus of effective governance thus leading to the negation of the spirit of democracy. Now enough is enough, there should be positive debate on the proposal and prospect of holding simultaneous elections to parliament and state assemblies and there should be honest introspection about his pressing issue of national importance and ways and methods or the mechanism should be evolved so that simultaneous elections becomes a reality. The maxim of one nation and one election should guide the politicians belonging to different political parties as well as the legal experts, constitutional luminaries and the general public in the directions of simultaneous polls. The simultaneous polls will automatically lead to national cohesion and national harmony besides economy in the expenditure. The simultaneous polls will save much precious time of the government which will be used in the effective governance of the country. Let us put our heart and souls together in this direction so that simultaneous polls become a reality.

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