Why simultaneous polls: Only 6 Lok Sabha terms since 1977 lasted full five years
On a day when the Lok Sabha will witness the introduction of Bills to implement simultaneous elections, the government has come out with a detailed justification of why it is pushing ahead with this key reform.
The crux of the government's argument is that the fragmented and frequent nature of elections has caused routine policy paralysis.
“Proponents of simultaneous polls argue that such a system could enhance administrative efficiency, reduce election-related expenditures, and promote policy continuity. As India aspires to streamline governance and optimise its democratic processes, the concept of ‘One Nation, One Election’ has emerged as a key reform requiring thoughtful deliberation and consensus,” an official note says.
The new Bills, which Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will introduce in the Lower House on Tuesday, propose aligning the election cycles of the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.
These would allow voters to cast their ballots for both tiers of government on the same day in their constituencies, though voting could still occur in phases across the country.
By synchronising these electoral timelines, the approach aims to address logistical challenges, reduce costs, and minimise disruptions caused by frequent elections.
As a rationale for the move, the government says the concept of simultaneous elections is not a new idea in India.
Following the adoption of the Constitution, elections to the Lok Sabha and all State Legislative Assemblies were conducted simultaneously from 1951 to 1967. The first General Election 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 Assemblies. 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 term, 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, 15th, 16th and 17th.
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. These developments have firmly disrupted the cycle of simultaneous elections, leading to the current pattern of staggered electoral schedules across the country,” official sources say.
They cite the following major benefits of simultaneous poll -- promotes consistency in governance; prevents policy paralysis; mitigates resource diversion; preserves regional party relevance; enhances political opportunities and enhances focus on governance.
