Lok Sabha, assembly polls could be held simultaneously

A majority of political parties have welcomed a proposed electoral reform to hold simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, a top official said here today.
Chairman of the Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice E M Sudarsana Natchiappan said that India as a democracy has become mature enough to hold simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections.
"However, this is possible only after after 15 to 20 years," Natchiappan said here.
He said that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has mooted the proposal as part of electoral reforms so that people have the right to elect a government within a stipulated period.

"Until 1967, the first four Lok Sabha and assembly elections were held simultaneously. After 1967, assembly elections were postponed due to imposition of president's rule and the era of coalition governments began," he said.
He said that during the last 15 years all three Lok Sabhas lasted their full five-year terms.

Natchiappan stated that currently assembly elections to Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Odisha are held simultaneously along with Lok Sabha elections.
Replying to a query, he said that elections to state assemblies whose terms would expire six months before Lok Sabha elections could be held along with Lok Sabha polls.

"With the Bommai case, the Supreme Court of India has settled the question of imposition of President's Rule in a state. Besides, the Anti-Defection Law prevents elected representatives from crossing the floor and it has brought stability to elected bodies," Natchiappan said.