Bills on simultaneous elections unconstitutional: Cong. leader, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• Former Union Minister P. Chidambaram opposed the proposed Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 before a Joint Committee of Parliament.
• He described the "One Nation, One Election" initiative as "unconstitutional" and a violation of the Basic Structure of the Constitution.
• The bills aim to synchronize elections for the Lok Sabha and all State Assemblies.
• The Joint Committee of Parliament, chaired by BJP MP P.P. Chaudhary, is examining these legislative proposals.
• Diverse stakeholders, including Padma awardees and think tanks, presented mixed views on the proposal.

Detailed Insights:

• Chidambaram argued that curtailing the fixed five-year tenure of legislatures would undermine constitutional principles and parliamentary democracy.
• He also questioned the government's ability to secure the two-thirds majority required for such a constitutional amendment.
• Supporters of simultaneous elections, including some Padma awardees, highlighted benefits such as uninterrupted development projects due to reduced imposition of the Model Code of Conduct.
• They also pointed to less disruption in academic calendars and healthcare services caused by frequent polls.
• Conversely, some cautioned that the move could lead to "chaos" and identified infirmities in the current form of the proposed legislation.
• Think tanks suggested the need for clearer statutory provisions, fixed outer limits for election deferment, and mandatory parliamentary oversight.
• They also recommended measures to prevent governance vacuums during election deferrals, such as structured limits on President's Rule or the use of caretaker governments.
• Historically, India conducted simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies until 1967.

Key Concepts Involved:

• One Nation, One Election: A proposal to synchronize the electoral cycles of the Lok Sabha and all State Legislative Assemblies to hold elections concurrently.
• Basic Structure Doctrine: A judicial principle established by the Supreme Court that certain fundamental features of the Indian Constitution cannot be altered or abrogated by parliamentary amendment.
• Model Code of Conduct (MCC): A set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India to regulate the conduct of political parties and candidates during elections to ensure free and fair polls.
• President's Rule (Article 356): A provision allowing the central government to take direct control of a state's administration if its constitutional machinery fails.