The Mother Of All Polls

The ‘One Nation, One Poll’ plan is laden with logistical challenges and could have undemocratic consequences. But it could be very good for the ruling party

- Amarnath K. Menon

Towards the end of his address on the opening day of the ongoing Budget session of Parliament, President Ram Nath Kovind made an impassioned plea for a seri­ ous debate on simultaneous elections. The ruling party, the BJP, has been vigorously advocating the idea, the clubbing of state assembly elections along with that to the Lok Sabha. This, despite the political and economic concerns many, particularly in the Opposition, have expressed. Only four times in the country’s electoral history were both polls held together: the very first general elections after Independence in 1952 and the next three till 1967.

The historic split in the Congress in 1969 ultimately led to the premature dissolution of the Lok Sabha, thus disrupting the simulta­neous elections pattern. Another factor that deepened this disruption was the liberal use of Article 356 of the Constitution by the Congress party to dismiss state governments and dissolve assemblies before the end of their terms. Given these circumstances, it was not possible to hold simultaneous elections.

Now, it’s the BJP that is eager to push thr­ ough the proposal—which it first mooted over a decade ago—citing long­term economic and other gains. Of course, it’s also eyeing short­ term political goals, like ‘Mission 360’ in 2019, prospecting more seats of its own as well as for electoral allies in the new Lok Sabha.