Concept of simultaneous elections not new to India, says govt in explainer

New Delhi: Ahead of the introduction of bills on holding simultaneous polls, the government Tuesday said the concept is not new to the country.

Following the adoption of the Constitution, elections to the Lok Sabha and all state assemblies were conducted simultaneously from 1951 to 1967, it noted.

The government said the first general elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies were held together in 1951-52, a practice that continued for three subsequent general elections in 1957, 1962, and 1967.

“However, this cycle of synchronised elections was disrupted in 1968 and 1969 due to the premature dissolution of some State Legislative Assemblies,” an official explainer said.

The Fourth Lok Sabha was also dissolved prematurely in 1970, with fresh elections held in 1971. Unlike the first, second, and third Lok Sabha, which completed their full five-year terms, the fifth Lok Sabha’s term was extended until 1977 under Article 352 because of the declaration of Emergency.

Since then, only a few Lok Sabha terms have lasted the full five years, such as the eighth, 10th, 14th and 15th. Others, including the sixth, seventh, ninth, 11th, 12th and 13th, were dissolved early.

State assemblies have faced similar disruptions over the years. Premature dissolutions and term extensions have become a “recurring challenge”, the government said.

“These developments have firmly disrupted the cycle of simultaneous elections, leading to the current pattern of staggered electoral schedules across the country,” it observed.

Citing a report of the high-level committee on ‘one nation, one election’, the explainer said simultaneous polls promote consistency in governance.

“Due to the ongoing cycle of elections in various parts of the country, political parties, their leaders, legislators, and both state and Central governments often focus their efforts on preparing for upcoming elections rather than prioritising governance,” it said, citing the ‘rationale’ for holding simultaneous polls as recommended by the panel headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind.

The adoption of simultaneous elections would refocus the government’s attention towards developmental activities and the implementation of policies aimed at promoting the welfare of the masses, it added.