4 parties support, 9 oppose simultaneous polls; BJP, Congress mum

Political parties were divided on the issue of holding Lok Sabha and assembly polls simultaneously with four supporting the idea and nine opposing it, even as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the main opposition Congress stayed away from a consultation organised by the Law Commission on the subject.

At the end of the two-day consultation on simultaneous polls, besides the National Democratic Alliance member Shiromani Akali Dal, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Samajwadi Party and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti supported the idea.

However, BJP ally Goa Forward Party opposed the concept as did the Trinamool Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Telugu Desam Party, the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India-Marxist, the Forward Bloc and the Janata Dal-Secular.

The SP, the TRS, the AAP, the DMK, the TDP, the JD-S and All India Forward Bloc met the Law Commission to put forth their views.

The SP, represented by Ram Gopal Yadav, supported the concept. But Yadav made it clear that the first simultaneous poll should be held in 2019, when the term of the 16th Lok Sabha comes to an end.

If simultaneous polls are held in 2019, the tenure of the Yogi Adityanath's BJP government in Uttar Pradesh will be shortened.

AAP's Ashish Khaitan told the law panel that simultaneous polls are a 'ploy' to keep people away from forming a government as the terms of houses will be extended if the two polls are held together.

He also dubbed the idea as a move to impose 'managed democracy' in the country, a senior law panel functionary present in the deliberations, said.

He also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be governing the country and not addressing rallies if simultaneous polls are held.

In a written response to the law panel, Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao said his party supports the idea as months are spent preparing for polls throughout the year.

B Vinod Kumar, who represented TRS at the meeting, said the analysis that local issues would be overshadowed by national issues if simultaneous polls are held, is incorrect.

He gave examples of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to drive home the point that voters cast ballot keeping in mind both national and local issues.

The TDP also opposed the idea, saying, "Simultaneous elections are no longer feasible in a vast country like ours with different political complexities of the assemblies. It is not possible to cut short the tenure of the Parliament and Assemblies. Simultaneous elections are incompatible with the Constitution and are also impracticable."

The DMK, JD-S and AIFB also opposed the concept.

JD-S representative Danish Ali told the law panel that the idea is against federal democracy. He said if the government is interested in electoral reforms, it should first implement earlier law panel reports on election reforms and then discuss simultaneous polls.

on Saturday, Shiromani Akali Dal had supported the concept, saying it would reduce expenditure of parties and shorten the period of the model code of conduct which hampers development work.

The AIADMK, represented by Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambi Durai, had said holding the two polls together is 'desirable' but certain 'practical' and 'serious' issues need to be settled first.

The AIADMK, which rules Tamil Nadu, was of the view that if necessary, simultaneous elections should be held in 2024 and not before that. Sources said the party was also of the view that the TN Assembly should be allowed to complete its term and the Lok Sabha elections should be held as per schedule.

The Trinamol Congress was represented by Kalyan Bandhopadhyay, a Lok Sabha member, at the meeting. His party too had opposed the concept saying, regional issues would be overshadowed by national issues, and national parties with their 'money power' would steal a march over smaller players.

The CPI, All India Democratic United Front and Goa Forward Party also expressed similar views.

The BJP, which has voiced its support to the proposal, has sought more time from the Commission to present its views on the issue. It has been told to do so by July 31 as the term of the present panel ends in August end, the sources said.

The Congress, meanwhile, said it will consult other opposition parties on the issue before making its mind.

The CPI-M had last week told the Law Commission that holding Lok Sabha and assembly polls together is inherently "anti-democratic" and negates the principles of federalism which is a fundamental feature of Constitution.

CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury had written to the panel, listing the party's objections to the proposal stating that it goes beyond the ambit of law reform entailing major amendments to Constitution, and would run against both the 'letter and spirit of our Constitution'.

Yechury had said that it 'may not be necessary' that his party attends the consultation.

Seeking to give shape to the government's concept of 'one nation, one election', the Law Commission's internal working paper has recommended holding the Lok Sabha and assembly polls simultaneously but in two phases beginning 2019.