Q. Simultaneous election to the Lok Sabha and the State Assemblies will limit the amount of time and money spent in electioneering but it will reduce the government’s accountability to the people. Discuss.

Introduction:
Between 1952 and 1967, India conducted simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. However, successive premature dissolutions of legislatures disrupted this practice. By 2019, only four States held concurrent polls. The idea, revived by the Election Commission of India and the Law Commission, remains a subject of constitutional and political debate.

Body:
I. Advantages of Simultaneous Elections
-Cost Efficiency
-Reduces recurring election expenditure; Lok Sabha elections alone cost approximately ₹4,000 crore.
-Consolidated polls streamline logistics like Electronic Voting Machines and polling infrastructure.

-Governance Continuity
-Frequent elections lead to repeated enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, halting policymaking.
-Simultaneous elections provide governments with a stable policy window of nearly five years.

-Administrative Convenience
-Reduces repeated deployment of civil and security personnel.
-In 2014, concurrent Lok Sabha and four State elections required over 2,400 companies of Central Armed Police Forces.

-Reduces Social and Political Disruption
-Frequent elections amplify caste and communal mobilization.
-A single electoral cycle may reduce polarisation and maintain social cohesion.

-Global Practices
-Countries like South Africa and Germany conduct synchronized national and provincial elections on fixed terms.

II. Challenges and Democratic Concerns
-Reduced Accountability
-Mid-term elections offer voters the opportunity to express dissatisfaction and influence governance.
-Simultaneity reduces this feedback loop.

-Federal Dilution
-State-specific issues may be sidelined by national narratives.
-The federal structure, upheld as part of the Constitution’s basic structure in S. R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994), may be compromised.

-Voter Behaviour and Distortion
-Studies show 77% of voters choose the same party for both levels when elections coincide, reducing differentiated voting based on local issues.

-Constitutional and Legal Hurdles
-Requires amendments to Articles 83, 85, 172, 174, and 356 to synchronize terms and resolve premature dissolution issues

-Recommendations of the Ramnath Kovind Committee
-Suggested phased implementation: One cycle for the Lok Sabha and half the State Assemblies, another after 2.5 years.
-Advocated for linking no-confidence motions with simultaneous confidence votes to ensure continuity.
-Recommended conducting bye-elections once a year to reduce disruptions.
-Proposed fixed residual tenure in case of premature dissolution, preventing misuse of electoral timing.

Conclusion:
With the Ramnath Kovind Committee submitting its report in March 2024, the proposal for simultaneous elections has gained renewed momentum. While it promises administrative efficiency, it must not compromise democratic accountability or federal integrity. A phased, consensus-based approach is essential to reconcile reform with constitutional principles.