Simultaneous elections 'anti-democratic': CPI(M)

The CPI(M) today termed the basic concept of simultaneous elections in India as "fundamentally anti-democratic" and "impractical".
In party organ Peoples' Democracy, the party's former general secretary, Prakash Karat argued that to hold the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections together would require tampering with the Constitutional scheme of accountability of the government to the legislature.
"The arguments against enforcing simultaneous elections for parliament and the state legislatures are not technical in nature, or, that it is impractical.
"The basic objection to the concept is that it is fundamentally anti-democratic and strikes at the root of the parliamentary democratic system," Karat said.

He criticised one of the suggestions made by the Niti Aayog which says that if the dissolution of the Lok Sabha cannot be avoided and the remainder of its term is not long, then a provision could be made for the president to carry out the administration of the country, on the aid and advice of a council of ministers to be appointed by him/her till the next House is constituted.
Karat also termed this suggestion as an "outrageous proposal".

Highlighting the federal system of the country, the Left leader said, "Only a federal set-up can sustain political democracy in a country like ours which has vast political diversity".

"Having elections in states at different times is one element of the federal system," he said.
Hitting out at the BJP on its slogan of 'One Nation, One Election', Karat said the concept of holding simultaneous election by "tampering with the Constitution" will only foster "centralised authoritarianism" and it must be "resolutely opposed".