Parties Differ on Simultaneous Elections; BJP, Cong Remain Absent

The proposal to hold simultaneous elections in India has received different responses from political parties.

Will Opposition parties vote for simultaneous elections?

(Photo: The Quint)

The Janata Dal United (JDU) on Sunday, 8 July, announced that it supported the proposal of holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the state Legislative Assemblies in the country. However, KC Tyagi, a party member told ANI on Sunday that the JD(U) did not think that implementing the same would be easy.

“We are in the favour of simultaneous elections but we don’t think it is easy to be conducted. However, we cannot oppose it as it is a step towards less expensive election, curbing black money and better governance,” said Tyagi.

Meanwhile, Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party said it does not support the proposal. Party member Aashish Khetan said that he had met the Law Commission Chairman and members, and told them that simultaneous elections would destroy parliamentary democracy and federalism.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) had announced earlier on Sunday that it was in favour of holding simultaneous elections, provided that they begin from 2019 itself, Ram Gopal Yadav, a member of the SP, said on Sunday. Yadav made these remarks after visiting the Law Commission, which is holding consultations on the feasibility of holding Lok Sabha and Assembly elections together.

“Samajwadi Party is in favour of simultaneous elections, but they should begin from 2019. In case public representatives switch sides or indulge in horse trading, action should be taken against them by the LG within a week,” Yadav said.

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) has also come out in support of the simultaneous elections. In a letter to the Law Commission, Chairman K Chandrashekar Rao stated that the party was strongly in favour of the move.

“TRS is strongly in favour of holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the state Legislative Assemblies,” Rao wrote in his letter.

The proposal, however, did not receive support from Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), whose working president MK Stalin stated that the call for simultaneous elections went against the basic tenets of India’s Constitution.

“DMK are of the firm opinion that the proposed call for simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state Legislatures goes against the basic tenets of our Constitution,” Stalin wrote in his letter to the Law Commission.

BJP, Congress Absent from First Day of Consultations

Both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress had maintained their distance from the first day of consultations by the Law Commission on 7 July.

Many regional parties were also apprehensive at the proposed idea as simultaneous elections would supposedly favour national players to dominate the polls and put smaller parties at a disadvantage.

Parties Hold Opposing Views on Proposal

Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) were the only two recognised national parties to attend the consultation. Sources said that both the parties vociferously opposed the concept of simultaneous polls.

Representing the TMC at the deliberations in the day, Bandhopadhyay also said the proposal was against the basic provisions of the Constitution.

“The party strongly opposes the concept floated by the BJP government as it is highly impractical and against the provisions of the Constitution," he said.

Regional issues would be overshadowed by national issues, and national parties with their “money power” would steal a march over smaller players.

Kalyan Bandhopadhyay, Trinamool Congress (TMC)

Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) supported the idea of simultaneous polls, saying it would reduce the expenditure of parties and shorten the period of the model code of conduct which hampers development work.

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), represented by Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambi Durai, said:

Holding the two polls together is desirable but certain practical and serious issues need to be settled first.

M Thambi Durai, AIADMK

BJP previously voiced its support to the proposal and has sought more time from the Commission to present its views on the issue. The Congress, meanwhile, said it will consult other Opposition parties on the issue before deciding its course of action.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI.)