‘One Year, One Poll’: EC’s Alternative to Simultaneous Elections

The suggestion from the EC came in response to the Law Commission asking for its views on simultaneous polls.

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(Photo: The Quint)

The Election Commission (EC) has suggested “one year, one election” as an alternative to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pitch for “one nation, one election”, The Indian Express (IE) reported.

The suggestion from the EC reportedly came in response to the Law Commission’s letter on 24 April asking for its views on aligning all state elections with Lok Sabha polls.

On 16 May, the Law Commission had asked the EC to list out "practical difficulties" in holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies and also sought its views on the proposed legal framework to carry out the exercise, PTI reported.

The law panel had also discussed various logistical and practical aspects with the Chief Election Commissioner and fellow commissioners in holding the two polls together, sources privy to the deliberations told PTI.

On the issue of legal framework, including amending the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act, the EC had said the law panel is better equipped to understand the requirement.

According to PTI, in 2015, the poll panel was asked by the government about the feasibility of simultaneous polls and the commission made it clear that it would require amendment to the Constitution and election laws and would require certain number of EVMs, poling personnel, and Rs 9,000 crore besides other logistics.

(With inputs from The Indian Express and PTI)